AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Section

4

4. Affected Environment
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-1 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.0 Affected Environment 

The study corridor used to identify various resources within the program’s affected

environment is comprised of the seven sections described in Chapter 3, Section 3.3.7.1

and illustrated in Exhibit 3.3‐10.  Depending on the resource and the available

information collected, the width of the study corridor varied. The various study corridor

widths are described in each of the resource sections.

4.1 Existing Land Use 

4.1.1 Development Patterns 

Historically, Chicago and St. Louis have served as major continental transportation

centers, both tracing their origins to water and rail transportation routes.  Chicago

prospered from its strategic location on Lake Michigan and access to eastern markets

through the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes.  St. Louis originally developed from its role

as a port on the Mississippi River that provided access to domestic and foreign markets.  

During the 19th Century, the addition of railroads linking these cities forged an

economic lifeline between Chicago and St. Louis.  Construction of the rail network

spawned the growth of numerous communities that served as regional centers for the

collection and distribution of goods for a rich agricultural region.  The influence of the

railroad remained strong until interstate highways joined the transportation system in

the 1950s and 1960s.  In contrast to the railroads, which created new communities along

their length to maintain and support the railroads, interstate highways were constructed

around, and often bypassed some communities.  Because the interstates had limited

points of access, county roads that connected with or crossed over interstates, linking

existing communities, became particularly important to the rural areas.  As the economy

of the region and the nature of agribusiness have changed, both highways and railroads

have remained important elements of community life.

Since the railroad is located in a general northeast‐southwest direction between Chicago

and St. Louis, city and village streets, typically designed on a north‐south/east‐west grid

system, cross the tracks at sharp angles.  This configuration was not a serious traffic

problem when rail crossings were traversed by pedestrians or horses.  However, the

combination of automobile and truck traffic, at notably increased volumes, and the

diagonal orientation of intersections, has compromised safety and operational efficiency

at many rail crossings within rural communities.  The use of larger agricultural vehicles,

which are periodically driven to town to deliver grain to the local grain elevator, has

also contributed to traffic congestion and hazards at highway‐railroad grade crossings.  

Depending upon the size of the community, the number of highway‐railroad at‐grade

crossings typically ranges from three to 15, with three to five crossings typically in the

smaller communities and 10 to 15 in the regional centers.

Old U.S. Route 66, a historic federal road, runs parallel to the rail corridor between Cook

County and Springfield and serves a unique and important role in providing direct
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-2 Tier 1 Final EIS 

highway access along the railroad to each corridor community.  Roads crossing the

railroad tracks are generally at‐grade and are important to the maintenance of continuity

of the roadway system, providing access across the tracks to Old U.S. Route 66,

farmland, rural residences, or the interstate.  Private rail crossings have been constructed

for privately‐owned parcels that are separated from roadway access by the tracks.  In

some instances private crossings provide the sole access to a parcel.

The downtown areas of the small rural communities along the study corridor developed

in a compact pattern along the railroad.  The location of buildings and uses, determined

by railroad accessibility, resulted in a clustering around the train stations and sidings.  

Land uses that relied heavily upon rail service concentrated in this area and include uses

such as: grain elevator, post office, passenger train station, commercial establishments,

and industrial plants and mills.  Other facilities important to community life, such as the

town hall, a civic park, school, fire station, post office, hotel, and dining establishments,

were also often constructed in proximity to the railroad passenger station.  These

facilities continue to play a key role in the economic and social livelihood of the

downtown core while serving residents throughout the community.

Six rural communities along the study corridor have developed into regional centers

over the past century.  These are: Joliet, Bloomington/Normal, Lincoln, Springfield,

Carlinville, and Alton.  The population, land uses, building density, and the local

transportation system distinguish the regional centers from the rural communities.  The

regional centers also typically have a wide range of agricultural, commercial and

industrial services and suppliers, and provide medical facilities and opportunities for

higher education not available in the smaller rural communities.

The existing Amtrak railroad corridor between Chicago and St. Louis, shown in Exhibit

2.0‐1, is 284 miles long, the majority of which has a single track.  As shown in Table

2.3‐1, the number of tracks varies by the ownership arrangements on each line section.  

Existing land use in the study corridor is described by county in Section 4.1.2.

4.1.2 Existing Land Use Description by County 

4.1.2.1 Cook County

The existing Chicago to St. Louis Amtrak route (Section 1, Exhibit 3.3‐10) operates on

Amtrak and Canadian National (CN) tracks from Union Station in Chicagoʹs downtown

for approximately 27 miles in Cook County, passing through Chicago and older Chicago

suburbs, including Cicero, Forest View, Summit, Bedford Park, Willow Springs, and

Lemont.  Metra commuter rail stations are located in Summit, Willow Springs, and

Lemont; Chicago to St. Louis Amtrak service also stops at the station in Summit.

Heavy industrial land use is predominant along the tracks in Cook County between

Chicago and Lemont.  In Lemont, the railroad passes through the central business

district.  Lemontʹs business core was originally stimulated by rail service and access to

the Illinois and Michigan Canal.  The central business district in Lemont continues to

provide a mixture of retail commercial, institutional, and recreational land uses in

proximity to the railroad.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-3 Tier 1 Final EIS 

The Rock Island District (Section 2) extends from downtown Chicago for approximately

26 miles, passing through Chicago and other Chicago suburbs, including Blue Island,

Robbins, Midlothian, Oak Forest, and Tinley Park.  Land use along the northern part of

this section is heavily industrial, with some mixed commercial and urban residential

neighborhoods adjacent to the study corridor.  It runs near or adjacent to Interstate 90

for approximately five miles.  At the southern end of this section, land use becomes

more mixed retail/commercial and residential with several parks and forest preserves

adjacent to the existing railway (see Section 4.15, Exhibit 4.15‐1).

4.1.2.2 Will County

In Joliet, the existing Amtrak route switches from the CN to the Union Pacific (UP)

tracks.  The existing route extends for approximately 33 miles in Will County, passing

through Romeoville, Lockport, Joliet, Elwood, Wilmington, Braidwood, and Godley.  

The Rock Island District (RID) extends for approximately 14 miles in Will County,

passing through Mokena, New Lenox, and Joliet.

The existing Amtrak route passes through the center of communities whose business

core was originally stimulated by rail service and access to the Illinois and Michigan

Canal.  The central business districts in Lockport, Joliet and Elwood continue to provide

a mixture of retail commercial, institutional, and recreational land uses in proximity to

the railroad.  South of Joliet, outside of the incorporated areas of Wilmington,

Braidwood, and Godley, most of the land use adjacent to the tracks is agricultural.

South of Elwood, the railroad passes through Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie,

formally the Joliet Arsenal.  The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is a 16,000‐acre

prairie parkland, established in 1996.  It serves as both a nature preserve and a

recreational open space with biking and hiking trails.  It is the first national tallgrass

prairie in the country and one of the newest units of the National Forest System (USDA,

2011).  The Joliet Arsenal redevelopment plan also includes construction of a 910‐acre

National Veteranʹs Cemetery on the west side adjacent to the railroad; two industrial

parks; and a 425‐acre county landfill (Joliet Arsenal Development Authority, 2011).

An additional special area in this county is the Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station,

located immediately southeast of Braidwood.  Some roadways that serve this facility

cross the railroad and are designated emergency evacuation routes (Exelon Corporation,

2011).

4.1.2.3 Grundy County

The study corridor extends for approximately 12 miles in the southeast corner of

Grundy County.  Most of the land adjacent to the track is used for agriculture in this

county.  However, it also passes along the edge of Braceville and through the center of

Gardner.  Residential development occurs along the Union Pacific in Braceville.  In

Gardner, numerous institutional and commercial uses, as well as a grain elevator, are

situated along the railroad.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-4 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.1.2.4 Livingston County

The study corridor extends for approximately 30 miles in Livingston County, passing

through the communities of Dwight, Odell, Cayuga, Pontiac, and Ocoya.  Both the

Village of Dwight and the City of Pontiac serve as regional centers for the

Grundy‐Livingston County agricultural area.  Outside of the urbanized areas, the

railroad passes through agricultural areas.

The study corridor passes through a mixed commercial and residential area in the

downtown areas of the Village of Dwight and the City of Pontiac, with some industrial

land use on the outer edges of these urbanized areas.  The City of Pontiac, located

towards the center of the county, is an important regional trading center with a blend of

agriculture, manufacturing, and service industries.  Heartland Community College and

St. James Hospital are among the facilities which distinguish Pontiac from the smaller

rural communities (Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council, 2011).

4.1.2.5 McLean County

In McLean County, the study corridor extends for approximately 43 miles through the

center of the Town of Normal and the City of Bloomington, contiguous communities

which together function as an urbanized regional center.  The study corridor also passes

through unincorporated agricultural areas and rural communities, including Chenoa,

Lexington, Towanda, Funks Grove, and McLean.

Chenoa, Lexington, and Towanda are located north of the Bloomington‐Normal area.  

Single‐family residential and commercial land uses, including those related to

agriculture, are generally located within the study corridor in these communities.

Land uses in the Bloomington‐Normal area reflect the areaʹs economic strength in

education, insurance, agribusiness, and industry (Bloomington‐Normal Area

Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2011).  The Illinois State University campus is on the

west side of the tracks in central Normal and includes university facilities and student

housing within walking distance to the Normal Amtrak station.

Funks Grove and McLean are located south of Bloomington‐Normal in McLean County.  

Land use in the Funks Grove area within the study corridor consists mainly of forested

areas.  However, there is some commercial land use near the railroad tracks in Funks

Grove.  The Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup Company, located in Funks Grove

Township has been in operation since 1891.  Access to Old U.S. Route 66 is provided by

a private grade crossing from this enterprise.  This private crossing is used to transport

sap.  During the spring season, this crossing is actively used.

The study corridor passes through the center of McLean, an agricultural community of

about 800 residents.  McLean has mixed land use, including a downtown area with

several historic buildings and a restored train depot that houses an antique shop (Illinois

Route 66 Scenic Byway, 2011).
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-5 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.1.2.6 Logan County

The study corridor extends for approximately 27 miles in Logan County and passes

through several rural communities, including Atlanta, Lawndale, Lincoln, Broadwell,

and Elkhart.  The City of Lincoln is the largest municipality in Logan County.  In

addition to residential areas, the city is occupied by government facilities, educational

institutions, and commercial and industrial land uses.

More than 95 percent of the Countyʹs 618 square miles are in active agricultural use,

utilizing the areaʹs fertile soil and open topography.  In the unincorporated agricultural

areas, there are isolated agricultural and industrial facilities adjacent to the railroad.  

These facilities are generally located near a rail crossing providing access to Old U.S.

Route 66 and Interstate 55.  Land uses in Logan County are predominantly agriculture,

with scattered wooded riparian greenways (Logan County Regional Planning

Commission, 2006).

The Lincoln and Logan Correctional Facilities are located approximately two miles south

of Lincoln.  The Township Route (TR) 128 highway‐railroad grade crossing is the only

crossing used to access these facilities from the west.  The 974‐acre Edward R. Madigan

State Fish and Wildlife Area is north of the correctional facilities and generates seasonal

traffic on Business Route Interstate 55 and the TR 128 rail crossing (Logan County

Regional Planning Commission, 2006).

4.1.2.7 Sangamon County

The study corridor extends for approximately 34 miles in Sangamon County, passing

through the City of Springfield, the current capital of Illinois and the county seat of

Sangamon County, and the rural communities of Williamsville, Sherman, Chatham,

Auburn, and Thayer.  Outside of Springfield, land uses along the study corridor in

Sangamon County are characteristic of those in predominantly agricultural areas

(Springfield‐Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission, 2009).   

Land uses in Springfield are generally mixed industrial, commercial, and residential,

with a high concentration of government buildings and businesses in the downtown

district (Springfield‐Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission, 2000).  The

Springfield train station is also located in the downtown district.  The concentration of

historic sites, government institutions, and research and conference facilities generate

high levels of tourist activity near the study corridor in Springfield.  President Abraham

Lincoln lived in Springfield from 1837 until he went to the White House in 1861.  Major

tourist attractions in Springfield include several historic sites connected with Lincoln,

such as the Lincoln Home National Historic Site located at 426 South Seventh Street and

the Lincoln‐Herndon Law Office State Historic Site located at 6th & Adams Streets.

The land use adjacent to the proposed Section 4 study corridor includes more of the

downtown district, the State Capitol Complex, and the Mid‐Illinois Medical District,

with intermixed residential development, while Section 5 passes through the eastern

edge of downtown Springfield, less residential area than Section 4, and a warehouse and
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-6 Tier 1 Final EIS 

industrial area.  However, Section 5 has a larger area of proposed new right‐of‐way than

Section 4.

4.1.2.8 Macoupin County

The study corridor extends for approximately 41 miles in Macoupin County, passing

through mostly agricultural areas, as well as rural communities, including Virden,

Girard, Nilwood, Carlinville, Plainview, and Shipman (Carlinville Community Chamber

of Commerce, 2012).  As the county seat, Carlinville serves as a regional center for

Macoupin County.   

4.1.2.9 Jersey County

The study corridor extends for less than three miles in unincorporated areas in the

southeast corner of Jersey County.  Land use is predominantly agricultural, but there is

some single‐family residential land use.

4.1.2.10 Madison County

The study corridor extends for approximately 27 miles in Madison County, passing

through urbanized, incorporated communities with heavy industrial uses (Madison

County Planning and Development Department, 2000).  The Lewis and Clark

Community College in Godfrey, the Alton Square Shopping Center in Alton, and the

Explorer Pipeline Company in Hartford, each located adjacent to the railroad, represent

the diversity of land uses within Madison County (Riverbend Growth Association,

2012).  Small agricultural fields remain active in the unincorporated areas.

Traveling south from Alton, the adjacent land use becomes increasingly industrial,

comprised of petroleum tank farms, refineries, and rail yards located in East Alton,

Wood River, and Hartford.  Small parcels of farmland, located between tank farms,

occur in East Alton and Hartford.  Larger farmland parcels are present farther south in

the unincorporated area between Hartford and Granite City.

In the southerly portion of Madison County, the study corridor parallels Illinois Route 3

into St. Clair County.  The area adjacent to the railroad is vacant land.

4.1.2.11 St. Clair County

The study corridor extends for approximately four miles in St. Clair County, passing

through the City of East St. Louis.  As at the southern end of Madison County, the study

corridor parallels Illinois Route 3 into East St. Louis.  The area adjacent to the railroad is

vacant land surrounding transportation infrastructure.

4.1.2.12 City of St. Louis

The study corridor extends for approximately two miles in the City of St. Louis.  The

railroad is located just south of the St. Louis downtown area.  Land use along the study

corridor in the City of St. Louis is primarily industrial, with some commercial land uses.  

Many of the buildings along this portion of the study corridor are vacant.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-7 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.2 Socioeconomic and Environmental Justice 

Community Characteristics 

4.2.1 Demographics 

The proposed study corridor includes portions of the Chicago‐Joliet‐Naperville

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Bloomington‐Normal, IL MSA, Springfield, Il MSA,

and St. Louis, MO‐IL MSA (Exhibit 4.2‐1).  The term MSA is used to describe a

geographical region with at least one urban core with a population of 50,000 or more

with adjacent territory that has a strong economic, social, and cultural tie to the core.

Cook, Grundy, and Will counties are all part of the Chicago‐Joliet‐Naperville MSA.  The

collective population of this MSA is 9,461,105 with 55 percent residing in Cook County,

seven percent in Will County, and less than one percent in Grundy County (USCB,

2010).  Between 2000 and 2008, Cook County experienced a three percent decline in

population while both Grundy and Will County grew on average 34 percent.  The

suburban increases around Chicago are a result of the movement of Hispanics into those

areas (State Journal Register, 2011).

Sangamon and McLean County both have populations of 150,000 to 200,000 people with

most of the residents living in a central populated community. Approximately 76

percent of McLean County residents live in Bloomington‐Normal while nearly 59

percent of Sangamon County’s residents are in Springfield.  McLean County’s

population grew nearly 13 percent between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, possibly

because of the stable white collar economy (State Journal Register, 2011).  Since 2000,

Sangamon County population has increased by nearly five percent.

Both Livingston and Logan counties are small, rural counties with approximately 38,000

and 30,000 residents, respectively.  Livingston’s largest community is Pontiac (11,931)

while Logan’s largest community is Lincoln (14,504).  Both counties experienced a

decline in population since 2000.

Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, St. Clair, and St. Louis counties are all part of the St. Louis

MSA.  All of the counties, except St. Louis, experienced four to six percent population

growth between 2000 and 2010.  Jersey and Macoupin counties would be considered

more rural, each with populations of less than 50,000.  St. Louis County is the most

populated with nearly 1.3 million people.  Madison County has approximately 260,000

people while St. Clair County has 270,000.

4.2.2 Economics 

4.2.2.1 Employment

The civilian employed population along the study corridor is nearly 3.8 million or 63

percent of the total Illinois employed population, and approximately 65 percent of that

employment works in Cook County (USCB, 2006‐2010).  The major industrial sector

along the study corridor is in education, healthcare, and social services, which employs

nearly 23 percent of the population.
Exhibit 4.2-1. Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Areas 
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-9 Tier 1 Final EIS 

In the northern sector of the study corridor, Cook County has the largest and most

diversified economy based on manufacturing, printing and publishing, finance and

insurance, and food processing (City Data, 2011).  With a large population that can draw

employees from surrounding Will and Grundy counties as well as an inland port,

Chicago serves as a transportation and distribution center.  The top six major employers

include the U.S Government, Chicago Public Schools, City of Chicago, Cook County,

Advocate Health Care, and the State of Illinois (Crain Communications, 2011).

In the central portion of the study corridor, Livingston County has a strong

manufacturing sector, and top employers include Caterpillar and the Pontiac

Correctional Facility (ILDCEO, 2011).  The economic base for McLean County is the

finance and insurance sector.  The headquarters for State Farm Insurance is located in

Bloomington and employs over 14,000 people (EDC, 2006).  Sangamon County is home

to the state capital, Springfield, and state government provides the base employment for

the county.  Logan County, located between Sangamon and McLean counties, has

approximately 70 percent of its workforce in three industry sectors: trade,

transportation, and utilities; education and healthcare; and manufacturing (Lincoln and

Logan County Development Partnership, 2011).

The southern section of the study corridor has five counties (Macoupin, Jersey, Madison,

St. Clair, and St. Louis) in the St. Louis, IL‐MO MSA.  Jersey and Macoupin County are

the most rural of the counties. The top employers in Macoupin County include Prairie

Farms Dairy Farms, Inc., Exxon Mobil, and the school districts, and in Jersey County, the

major employers are the Jersey Community Hospital, Principia College, and the Jersey

school district.  Much of the population and employment for Madison County is located

in Edwardsville, and the top employers include the Southern Illinois University, four

manufacturing companies, and two medical centers.  In St. Clair County, Scott Air Force

Base employs over 12,000 people.  The other top employers include three healthcare

systems, East St. Louis school district, and Southwestern Illinois College.  St. Louis

County is the most populated and industrial county in the region with manufacturing

and corporate headquarters.  It has a diverse workforce with top employers in

healthcare, education, telecommunications, financial services, utilities, and government

(RCGA, 2011).

4.2.2.2 Income

The highest median household incomes within the study area are in Will ($75,906) and

Grundy ($64,297) counties followed by St. Louis and McLean counties which both have

median household incomes around $58,000.  Jersey and Cook counties have median

household incomes around $53,000, Sangamon and Madison counties are around

$52,000, and Livingston County is around $51,000.  In the study area, the lowest median

household incomes, all around $48,000, are in Logan, Macoupin, and St. Clair counties

(USCB, 2006‐2010).
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-10 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.2.3 Environmental Justice 

4.2.3.1 Laws, Orders, and Regulations

On February 11, 1994, President Clinton issued EO 12898, Federal Actions to Address

Environmental Justice in Minority and Low–Income Populations.  The purpose of this

EO is to avoid the disproportionate placement of adverse environmental, economic,

social, or health impacts from federal actions and policies on minority and low‐income

populations or communities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Order on Environmental Justice (Federal

Register: May 10, 2012 [Volume 77, Number 91]) states that environmental justice is the

requirement that federal agencies address, to the greatest extent practicable and

permitted by law, the potential disproportionately high, adverse human health and

environmental impacts of their programs, policies, and activities on minority and low‐

income populations.   The  HSR Program will follow existing policies  designed to

implement EO 12898, namely the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Title VI of

the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real

Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (URA), and other DOT applicable

statutes, regulations and guidance that concern planning; social, economic, or

environmental matters; public health or welfare; and public involvement.

4.2.3.2 Low‐Income and Minority Populations

Detailed information regarding minority populations in the study corridor was

compiled at the Census Block Group Level from the 2010 Census and low‐income data

was compiled at Census Tract Level from the Census 2010 American Community Survey

(5‐yr estimates).  Low‐income, i.e., at or below the poverty threshold, is defined as a

family of four having an aggregate annual mean income at or below $22,314 in 2010

(Census, 2010). Low‐income percentages in the study corridor census tracts range from 0

to 85 percent.  Minority data is obtained from the Census and includes all individuals

who identified their race as Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska

Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, or two or more races

(Census, 2010).  Minority percentages in the counties along the study corridor block

groups range from 0 to 100 percent.  A minority or low income population for this Tier 1

FEIS is defined as a community of concern if it meets either or both of the following

criteria: The census block contains 50 percent, or more, minority persons and/or the

census block group contains 50 percent, or more, low‐income persons.   

Table 4.2‐1 shows the number of block groups or census tracts within a one‐mile study

corridor along each section of the alignment and identifies the number that have either

50 percent of the population that is a minority or below the poverty line.  Approximately

283 block groups within the one‐mile corridor of the proposed sections have minority

populations greater than 50 percent minority while 18 census tracts have poverty rates

greater than 50 percent.  The highest concentrations of minority populations and those

in poverty are in the dense urban areas around Cook County and Will County and areas

in East St. Louis /Downtown St. Louis.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-11 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.2‐1.  Environmental Justice Populations  

Section 

Census Tracts Census Block Groups 

Total Populations Below Poverty Line 

(>50%)1 Total Minority Populations (>50%)2

1 76 2 147 62

2 129 11 275 175

3 42 2 141 13

4 14 0 33 3

5 17 0 35 9

6 44 0 90 5

7 13 3 20 16

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010

1 Tracts in this column have 50 percent or more of the population below the poverty line.

2 Block groups in this column have 50 percent or more of the population identified as a minority.  

4.2.4 Community Services and Facilities 

Schools, medical centers, churches, fire stations, police stations, and recreational areas

serve the daily needs of the residents.  Table 4.2‐2 shows the number of schools,

hospitals, and churches that are within the one‐ mile corridor along each section of the

alignment.  Fire stations and police stations are located within all the communities, and

it is anticipated that their service routes would include all roads and crossings within the

sections. The district boundaries for public services extend beyond the limits of

municipalities and covers vast agricultural areas. Typically, municipal governments

would be responsible for those services within the communities while the county would

manage services outside of communities.  Access to and from the facilities plays a

critical role in providing these resources.  Current railroad lines do not limit or restrict

access. Furthermore, there has been past coordination to make sure that public services

are not affected by crossings and blocked crossings are minimized.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-12 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.2‐2.  Community Facilities

Section 

Schools 

Churches Hospitals College Public 

School 

Private 

School 

1 2 34 14 79 1

2 7 86 33 278 3

3 1 41 11 75 10

4 3 6 2 3 2

5 3 7 2 2 1

6 1 28 6 49 1

7 1 5 0 17 0

Source: ESRI ArcGIS 10 Online Data

4.3 Energy 

Current energy consumption by the four basic transportation modes — rail, automobile,

bus, and air — used for intercity travel in the study corridor was calculated for this

program.  Because each of the four modes uses a different type of fuel, comparison of

the energy consumed by each required conversion to a common base unit.  The British

Thermal Unit (BTU) was the measure used to compare the total annual energy

consumed by each mode.

The following energy consumption rates were used to calculate annual consumption for

each of the four transportation modes.   

 Rail:    1,745 BTUs per passenger‐mile

 Automobile: 3,501 BTUs per passenger‐mile

 Bus:    2,656 BTUs per passenger‐mile

 Air:    2,931 BTUs per passenger‐mile

These rates were taken from the following Research and Innovative Technology

Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics website

(http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/2010/html/table_04_

20.html) and are based on the year 2008 data, which is the last year that data was

available.  These consumption rates indicate that rail travel is the most energy efficient

mode of transportation.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-13 Tier 1 Final EIS 

To determine the total BTUs consumed for each mode, the BTU rates were calculated by

the corresponding annual passenger‐miles from the year 2010 (Table 4.3‐1).   As shown

in the table, the rail system consumes approximately 0.7 percent of all energy used for

intercity passenger service in the study corridor while serving 1.7 percent of all

passenger‐miles of travel.

Table 4.3‐1.  Existing Annual Passenger‐Miles of Travel and Energy Consumption

Mode Passenger-Miles 

(millions) 

Percent of All 

Four Modes 

Energy 

Consumption 

(billions of BTUs) 

Percent of All 

Four Modes 

Rail 114 1.7 199 0.7

Automobile 6,499 95.8 27,754 97.6

Bus 26 0.4 69 0.3

Air 140 2.1 411 1.4

Total 6,779 100.0 28,433 100.0

4.4 Agriculture 

The State of Illinois is an agricultural state.  Seventy‐two percent of the State of Illinois’

land area is utilized as farmland for the production of crops, timber, or livestock (USDA,

2007).  With the exception of the urbanized metropolitan areas of Chicago and St. Louis,

agriculture is the primary land use along the study corridor.  Of the 12 corridor counties

in Illinois, farmland accounts for over 90 percent of the total county land area in

Livingston and Sangamon counties, and over 80 percent of the total land area in four

others (Grundy, Jersey, Logan, and McLean).

The Farmland Protection Policy Act, enacted in 1981 and finalized in 1994, was

established to minimize unnecessary and irreversible conversion of farmland to non‐

agricultural uses.  It also ensures these projects are compatible with state, local, and

private efforts to preserve farmland.  It is administered by the US Department of

Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and applies to construction projects

funded in part or entirely by the federal government.  The act identifies “prime

farmland soils” as soil types that comprise the best physical and chemical characteristics

for the production of food and other agricultural crops with minimal use of fuel,

fertilizer, pesticides, and labor, as well as minimal erosion.  Land not actively farmed

can be classified as “prime farmland” but land in urban development or used for water

storage may not be classified as such.  Prime farmland soils in the counties along the

proposed study corridor are listed in Appendix B.  Soil data for Cook, Madison, St. Clair,

and St. Louis counties are not included in this appendix.  These counties were excluded
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-14 Tier 1 Final EIS 

because the study corridor is completely within urban boundaries, thus exempting the

soils here from consideration under the Farmland Protection Policy Act.   

Prime farmland soils along the study corridor are shown on Exhibits 4.4‐1 through 4.4‐3.  

The study corridor illustrated in these exhibits is one mile wide (half a mile on either

side of the section alignments).

4.5 Cultural Resources 

Cultural resources include historic and pre‐historic resources that are listed or eligible

for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).  Section 106 of the

National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to take into account the

effects of their undertakings, including licensing and approvals, on historic properties

and to afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and other

interested parties a reasonable opportunity to comment.  Sites listed or eligible for listing

on the NRHP are also subject to Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation

Act.  Additional information about Section 4(f) is provided in Section 4.15.

An integral part of the Section 106 process is the delineation of the area within which

archaeological and architectural resources would be affected or are likely to be affected.

The Area of Potential Effect (APE) as defined by 36 CFR 800.16(d) represents “the

geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause

alterations in the character or use of historic properties [i.e., NRHP‐eligible resources], if

any such properties exist. “

For the purposes of assessing effects through the Section 106 review process, direct

effects include, but are not limited to, areas of construction resulting in the partial or

complete demolition of NRHP‐eligible buildings or structures or the physical

disturbance of NRHP‐eligible archaeological resources. Indirect effects include, but are

not limited to, visual, audible, or atmospheric effects, which alter the character or use of

any of the physical aspects of integrity which contribute to the resource’s ability to meet

the criteria for listing in the NRHP.  For this Tier 1 evaluation, the APE was established

as a 500‐foot wide corridor (250 feet to either side) along each section of the alignment

under consideration, based on the potential for direct or indirect impacts.  This APE may

be revised for Tier 2 studies as additional details are developed.
Lake

Michigan

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦88

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

§ ̈¦94

§ ̈¦290

§ ̈¦190

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦94

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤12

£¤6

£¤45

£¤30

£¤52

£¤41

WILL

COOK

KANE

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DUPAGE DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS FORD

Chicago

Joliet

Aurora

Elgin

Bartlett

DeKalb

Glenview

Lisle

Alsip

Geneva

Naperville

Orland Park

Bolingbrook

Romeoville

Skokie

Schaumburg

Tinley Park

Plainfield

Kankakee

Wheaton

Batavia

Niles

Frankfort

Addison

Des Plaines

St. Charles

Crete

Morris

Elmhurst

Matteson

Darien

Lombard

West Chicago

Hoffman Estates

Wayne

Harvey

Oak Lawn

Mokena

New Lenox

Lemont

Marseilles

Itasca

Oswego

Evanston

Crest Hill

Channahon

Lansing

University Park

Pontiac

Dolton Yorkville

Mount Prospect

Burr Ridge

Plano

Sycamore

Hinsdale

Oak Forest

Oak Park

Bradley

Warrenville

Joliet

Seneca

Monee

Sugar Grove

Homewood

Bedford Park

Braidwood

Justice

Elburn

Wilmington

Franklin Park

Blue Island

Elwood

Gilberts

Virgil

Dwight

Hampshire

Manteno

Essex

Genoa

Sandwich

Coal City

Hopkins Park

Lily Lake

Beecher

Odell

Herscher

Peotone

Sheridan

Newark

Manhattan

Momence

Clifton

Braceville

Ford Heights

Gardner

Ransom

Aroma Park

Hinckley

Ashkum

Preston Heights

Mazon

Yorkville

St. Anne

Grant Park

Maple Park

Cabery

Lisbon

Cullom

Minooka

Chebanse

Donovan

Burlington

Martinton

Papineau

Reddick

Kempton

Saunemin

Buckingham Irwin

Verona

Emington

Campus

Symerton

Union Hill

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.4-1. Prime Farmland Soils (1 of 3)

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

Prime Farmland
£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤150

£¤51

§ ̈¦39 § ̈¦55

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦474 § ̈¦74

§ ̈¦155

Decatur

Springfield

Pekin

Normal

Morton

Peoria

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Pontiac

Washington

Chillicothe

Peoria Heights

Downs

Clinton

Sherman

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Monticello

Elkhart

Athens

Farmer City

Bellevue

Minonk

Rochester

Heyworth

Gridley

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Hopewell

Maroa

Bement

Roanoke

Rutland

Lexington

Danvers

Williamsville

Minier

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Hudson

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Hammond

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Washburn

Oreana

Wapella

Congerville

Argenta

Flanagan

Secor Fairbury

Saybrook

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

Hopedale

Princeville

De Land

Stanford

Dunlap

Dana

Warrensburg

Kenney

Cornell

Southern View

Kappa

De Witt

Weldon

South Pekin

Armington

Green Valley

Waynesville

La Rose

Carlock

Ellsworth

Bellflower

Cooksville

Middletown

Decatur

Broadwell

Toluca

MCLEAN

LOGAN

PIATT

DEWITT

WOODFORD

LIVINGSTON

MENARD

MACON

TAZEWELL

PEORIA

SANGAMON

MARSHALL

MOULTRIE CHRISTIAN

 ́

Not To Scale

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

Prime Farmland

Exhibit 4.4-2. Prime Farmland Soils (2 of 3)
£¤67

£¤50

£¤40

£¤36

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦70

§ ̈¦270

§ ̈¦64

§ ̈¦72

Springfield

Godfrey

Alton

Granite City

O'Fallon

Collinsville

Edwardsville

Taylorville

Roxana

Troy

Jacksonville

Bethalto

Highland

Chatham

Greenville

East Alton

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Witt

Breese

Hillsboro

Staunton

Virden

Carlinville

Hillsboro

Rochester

Elsah

Brighton

Benld

Hamel

Wenonah

Gillespie

Loami

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Coffeen

Raymond

Waverly

Trenton

Pawnee

Palmyra

Harvel

Marine

Scottville

Bunker Hill

Kane

Livingston

Fillmore

Mascoutah

Franklin

Manchester

South Jacksonville

Mount Olive

Worden

New Douglas

Farmersville

Alhambra

Kincaid

Morrisonville

Mount Auburn

Modesto

Dorchester

Rockbridge

Mulberry Grove

St. Jacob

Edinburg

Nilwood

Owaneco

Hettick Standard City

Chesterfield

Medora

Panama

Murrayville

Woodson Stonington

Keyesport

Southern View

Roodhouse

Waggoner

Walshville

Huey

Grantfork

Hoffman

MACOUPIN

BOND

CHRISTIAN

CLINTON

GREENE

JERSEY

MADISON

MONTGOMERY

SANGAMON

MORGAN

FAYETTE

 ́

Not To Scale

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

Prime Farmland

Exhibit 4.4-3. Prime Farmland Soils (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-18 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.5.1 Historic Architectural Resources 

Historic architectural resources include previously identified above‐ground resources

such as buildings, sites, structures, and historic districts.  Properties located within 250

feet of the existing railroad alignments that may qualify for protection under Section 106

were identified.  GIS data was obtained from National Park Service and Illinois Historic

Preservation Agency (http://www.state.il.us/hpa/ps/haargis.htm) websites for properties

listed or determined eligible for listing on the NRHP that are within this corridor.  

Thirty‐five NRHP‐eligible and NRHP‐listed resources were identified and are listed in

Table 4.5‐1 and shown on Exhibit 4.5‐1. During Tier 2, field surveys would be conducted

in areas of construction to identify additional sites that may be eligible for listing on the

NRHP.   

Table 4.5‐1.  NRHP and NRHP‐Eligible Resources within 250 Feet of Alignments

Resource City/County Section NRHP Status 

Union Station – 210 S Canal Street Chicago/Cook 1,2 Eligible

United States Post Office – 433 W Van Buren

Street Chicago/Cook 1,2 Listed

Illinois & Michigan Canal Joliet/Will 1

Listed; National

Historic

Landmark

Lockport Historic District Lockport/Will 1 Listed

Gaylord Building – 200 West 8th Street Lockport/Will 1 Listed

Joliet Steel Works – 927 Collins St Joliet/Will 1 Listed

Old Joliet Prison/Illinois State Penitentiary –

1125 Collins Street Joliet/Will 1 Eligible

U.S. Post Office – 150 North Scott Street Joliet/Will 1 Listed

Union Station – 50 East Jefferson Street Joliet/Will 1, 2 Listed

The Yale – 6565 South Yale Avenue Chicago/Cook 2 Listed

Hamilton Park – 513 West 72nd Street    Chicago/Cook 2 Listed

Raymond M. Hilliard Center Historic

District Chicago/Cook 2 Listed

Karl Vogt Building – 6811 Hickory Street Tinley Park/Cook 2 Listed

Joliet East Side Historic District Joliet/Will 2 Listed

Joliet Township High School – 201 East

Jefferson Street Joliet/Will 2 Listed

Route 66, Joliet to Wilmington Will 3 Listed
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-19 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.5‐1.  NRHP and NRHP‐Eligible Resources within 250 Feet of Alignments

(continued)

Resource City/County Section NRHP Status 

Dwight Chicago and Alton Railroad Depot –

119 West Main Street

Dwight/

Livingston 3 Listed

Illinois State Police Office (Pontiac) – 15551

Old U.S. 66

Pontiac/

Livingston 3 Listed

Route 66, Cayuga to Chenoa Pontiac/

Livingston 3 Listed

Bridge over Rooks Creek carrying OR #66

NB Livingston 3 Eligible

Matthew T. Scott House – 227 1st Avenue Chenoa/ McLean 3 Listed

John Patton Log Cabin – Keller Park Lexington/

McLean 3 Listed

Bridge over Market Street FAU6359 carrying

Southern Pacific Railroad

Bloomington/

McLean 3 Eligible

Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District Lincoln/ Logan 3 Listed

Atlanta Public Library – 100 SE Race Street Atlanta/Logan 3 Listed

J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator – 301 SW 2nd

Street Atlanta/ Logan 3 Listed

John F. Bretz House and Warehouse – 1113

North 5th Street  

Springfield/

Sangamon 4 Listed

Edwards Place – 700 N 4th Street Springfield/

Sangamon

4 Listed

Susan Lawrence Dana House – 301

Lawrence Avenue

Springfield/

Sangamon 4

Listed; National

Historic

Landmark

Jennings Ford Automobile Dealership – 431

South 4th Street  

Springfield/

Sangamon 4 Listed

Hickox Apartments – 631 South 4th Street Springfield/

Sangamon

4 Listed

Amtrak Station – 100 S 3rd Street Springfield/

Sangamon

4 Eligible

Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals‐

Springfield Mine Rescue Station – 609 East

Princeton Avenue

Springfield/

Sangamon 5 Listed

Route 66, Girard to Nilwood Macoupin 6 Listed

MacArthur Bridge East St. Louis/St.

Clair 7 Eligible
Figure 4.5‐1.  Historic Architectural Resources
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-21 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.5.2 Archaeological Resources 

Archaeological resources include resources such as petroglyphs, pictographs, rock

shelters, village sites, cemeteries, prehistoric earthworks and mounds, historic

earthworks and fortifications, farmsteads, industrial sites, foundations, and ephemeral

scatters of prehistoric and historic debris.  The Illinois State Archaeological Survey

provided GIS data for NRHP‐listed sites within this corridor.  Five archaeological sites

were identified within the APE and are listed in Table 4.5‐2.  Specific locations are not

provided in order to protect the integrity of the sites.

Table 4.5‐2.  Previously‐Identified NRHP‐listed Archaeological Sites

Resource County Section Site ID 

Cemetery Cook 1 11CK764

Cemetery Will 1 11WI1186

Cemetery Will 1 11WI70

Mound Macoupin 6 11MP266

Mound Macoupin 6 11MP4

4.6 Natural Resources 

The study corridor used for the natural resources evaluation is one mile wide (half a

mile on either side of the section alignments).

4.6.1 Geology and Soils 

The study corridor is within the Central Lowland Physiographic Province. The area

between Chicago and Joliet (Cook and Will counties) is within the Chicago Lake Plain

and the Wheaton Morainal Country Division of the Great Lake Section of the Central

Lowland Province.  The Chicago Lake Plain Division is underlain by till and

characterized by a very flat surface.  The Wheaton Morainal Country Division contains a

variety of glacial land forms with gently rolling topography.  Glacial soils are found

throughout the Great Lake Section.  The remainder of the study corridor lies within the

Till Plains Section.  From Joliet to Dwight in Livingston County, the study corridor

crosses the Kankakee Plain Division; from Dwight to northeast of Lincoln in Logan

County, the study corridor traverses the Bloomington Ridged Plain Division; and from

Logan County to St. Louis, the study corridor is in the Springfield Plain Division (Illinois

State Geological Survey, 2011, http://www.isgs.illinois.edu).  The Till Plains Section is

topographically flat with glacial soils.  These physiographic units are shown on Exhibit

4‐6.1.    

Glacial till deposits are found throughout the entire study corridor, and much of the

surface is covered with glacial drift, which is silt, clay, sand, gravel, and boulders left

behind by retreating continental glaciers.  The Chicago and St. Louis areas may have less  
Lake

Michigan

INDIANA

MICHIG

WISCONSIN

ILLINOIS

IOWA

MISSOURI

KENTUCKY

Springfield Plain

Galesburg Plain

Bloomington

Ridged Section

Mt. Vernon

Hill Country

Kankakee Plain

Rock River

Hill Country

Wheaton

Morainal

Country

Shawnee Hills

Section

Green

River

Lowland

Lincoln Hills

Section

Wisconsin

Driftless Section

Ancient Illinois

Floodplain

Griggsville

Plain

Chicago

Lake Plain

Salem

Plateau

Section

Coastal Plain

Province

Dissected

Till Plains

Section

 ́

Not To Scale

Ozark Plateaus Province

Lincoln Hills Section

Salem Plateau Section

Interior Low Plateaus Province

Shawnee Hills Section

Central Lowland Province

Great Lakes Section

Chicago Lake Plain

Wheaton Morainal Country

Wisconsin Driftless Section

Dissected Till Plains Section

Till Plains Section

Rock River Hill Country

Green River Lowland

Galesburg Plain

Bloomington Ridged Plain

Kankakee Plain

Ancient Illinois Floodplain

Griggsville Plain

Springfield Plain

Mt. Vernon Hill Country

Coastal Plain Province

Province Division

Section Division

Subsection Division

Study Corridor

County Boundary

State Boundary

Exhibit 4.6-1. Physiographic Regions (1 of 1)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-23 Tier 1 Final EIS 

than 25 feet of drift thickness, while drift in the central portion of the study area may be

thicker than 200 feet in some places.  Loess is a geologic term that refers to deposits of

silt that have been transported by wind action. Extensive, thick loess deposits formed in

areas bordering large continental glaciers.  Loess deposits within the study area are

generally up to five feet deep between Chicago and the northern boundary of McLean

County.  From there to St. Louis loess deposits may be ten to 20 feet thick, with some

places much deeper.

Underlying bedrock in the study area is dominated by Silurian age formations in the

Chicago to Joliet portion of the study area, with younger Pennsylvanian age rocks,

predominantly the Shelburn‐Patoka Formation and Bond Formation, from Joliet to St.

Louis.  These Pennsylvanian formations occur with the Illinois Basin, a northwest to

southeast asymmetrical structural basin that is filled with more than 13,000 feet of

Paleozoic sedimentary rocks.  The basin covers most of Illinois and extends into western

Indiana and western Kentucky.    

A wide variety of soils are found within the study area, and most of the soils formed

from loess.  Productive agricultural soils characterize much of the study area outside of

urban settings.  Corn and soybeans are the main crops produced in agricultural areas.  

4.6.1.1 Mineral Resources

The primary mineral resources within the study area include coal, crude oil, and natural

gas.  Existing coal mines are concentrated in southern and western Illinois, and the

Eastern Interior Coal Field includes most of the study area.  Madison County and

southwest Jersey County have coal deposits that can be surface mined.  Coal that may be

deep mined is abundant in Livingston, Logan, Sangamon, Macoupin, and Madison

counties.   

Crude oil and natural gas production is concentrated in southeastern Illinois, although

within the study area crude oil is produced from Sangamon, Macoupin, Madison, and

St. Clair counties.  Minor quantities of natural gas are also produced in these counties.   

Seismic Risk

Seismic risk is highest in the southern tip of Illinois, which is in proximity to the New

Madrid Seismic Zone noted for historic earthquake activity.  Seismic risk decreases from

southern to northern Illinois.  Cook and northern Will counties are designated by the US

Geological Survey (USGS) as having no seismic risk.  From Will County to northern

Madison County seismic risk is considered minor, but the remainder of Madison County

has moderate risk.  The St. Louis area has experienced minor earthquake damage at least

twelve times in the past 200 years.  Structures located in the Mississippi River floodplain

will likely experience stronger ground shaking and a greater likelihood of liquefaction.  

Bedrock is most commonly a hard 350 million‐year‐old limestone in the St. Louis area.  

Structures built on or near bedrock, such as in the upland areas out of the floodplains,

will tend to have lower levels of earthquake ground shaking

(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/ceus/urban_map/st_louis/index.php).  
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-24 Tier 1 Final EIS 

There is broad agreement in the scientific community that a continuing concern exists

for a major destructive earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone.  Many structures in

St. Louis and other communities in the central Mississippi River Valley region are

vulnerable and at risk from severe ground shaking

(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/ceus/urban_map/st_louis/links/index.php).  Within

the study area, the potential for earthquake damage would be greatest in Madison

County, as amplification of ground movement may occur in alluvial soils along the

Mississippi River Valley.

4.6.2 Ecological Resources 

4.6.2.1 Ecoregions  

Ecoregion and forest descriptions were obtained from the Environmental Protection

Agency’s Western Ecology Division web based data sets

(ftp://ftp.epa.gov/wed/ecoregions/il/il_back.pdf).  Ecoregions found within the study

corridor are discussed below.  Mapping of Illinois’ ecoregions is contained in Exhibits

4.6‐2 through 4.6‐4.

Illinois/Indiana Prairie

The potential natural vegetation for this ecoregion is a mosaic of bluestem prairie and

oak–hickory forest.  Now, only narrow corridors of riparian forest occur.  Agriculture

has affected stream chemistry, turbidity, and habitat.  This region has been mostly

converted to cropland.  Corn, soybeans, and wheat are the major crops; livestock

farming is also important.  The steepest land is used as pastureland or hayland.

Chicago Lake Plain

The potential natural vegetation for this ecoregion is a mosaic of bluestem prairie and

oak–hickory forest.  Dry prairies, mesic prairies, wet prairies, sand prairies, fens,

marshes, floodplain forests, and, on sandy ridges, scrub‐oak forests were common prior

to settlement.  Now, the landscape has been mostly urbanized.

Sand Area

The potential natural vegetation for this ecoregion is a mosaic of bluestem prairie and

oak–hickory forest.  Now, the landscape has been mostly converted to cropland or used

as pastureland.  On excessively drained, low nutrient dune soils, scrub forest or

pasturelands are now common.  Locally, vegetation that once stabilized dunes has been

removed, thereby reactivating the dunes.

Valparaiso‐Wheaton Morainal Complex

The potential natural vegetation for this ecoregion is a mosaic of oak–hickory forest and

bluestem prairie.  Land use today is mostly growing urban and suburban developments,

but wooded areas, wetlands, and pastureland are common.
Lake

Michigan

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦88

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

§ ̈¦94

§ ̈¦290

§ ̈¦190

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦94

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤12

£¤6

£¤45

£¤30

£¤52

£¤41

WILL

COOK

KANE

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DUPAGE DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS FORD

 ́

Not To Scale

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Chicago Lake Plain

Illinois/Indiana Prairies

Kankakee Marsh

Sand Area

Valparaiso-Wheaton Morainal Complex

Study Corridor

County Boundary

State Boundary

Exhibit 4.6-2. Ecoregions (1 of 3)
§ ̈¦ § ̈¦55 39

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦474 § ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦155

£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤51

Peoria

Decatur

Springfield

Pekin

Normal

Morton

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Bartonville

Pontiac

Washington

Chillicothe

Downs

Eureka

Clinton

Sherman

Le Roy

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Monticello

Rochester

Elkhart

El Paso

Athens

Farmer City

Bellevue

Minonk

Atlanta

Harristown

Heyworth

Gridley Chenoa

Goodfield

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Dawson

Maroa

Tremont

Princeville

Bement

Roanoke

Bloomington

Lexington

Danvers

Williamsville

Minier

Spring Bay

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Hudson

Decatur

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Hammond

Hopewell

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Mapleton

Washburn

Oreana

Wapella

Argenta

Flanagan

Secor

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

Hopedale

McLean

Illiopolis

De Land

Stanford

Dunlap

Rutland

Dana

Warrensburg

Kenney

Southern View

Kappa

De Witt

Weldon

Emden

South Pekin

Panola

Armington

Green Valley

Waynesville

La Rose

Carlock

Benson

Ellsworth

Mechanicsburg

Cooksville

New Holland

Middletown

Arrowsmith

Broadwell

Hartsburg

Dalton City

Fairbury

Lovington

MCLEAN

LOGAN

DEWITT

PIATT

WOODFORD

PEORIA

LIVINGSTON

MENARD

MACON

SANGAMON

MASON

CHRISTIAN

 ́ MOULTRIE

Not To Scale

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Illinois/Indiana Prairies

Karstic Northern Ozarkian River Bluffs

Middle Mississippi Alluvial Plain

River Hills

Sand Area

Southern Illinoian Till Plain

Upper Mississippi Alluvial Plain

Western Dissected Illinoian Till Plain

Municipality

County Boundary

Exhibit 4.6-3. Ecoregions (2 of 3)
ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

St. Louis

West Alton

Ladue

Hazelwood Florissant

Old Jamestown

Kirkwood

Ferguson

Spanish Lake

Overland

St. Ann

Affton

Normandy

Portage Des Sioux

£¤67

£¤50

£¤40

£¤36

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦270

§ ̈¦64 § ̈¦255

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦55

Springfield

Godfrey

Alton

Granite City

O'Fallon

Collinsville

Cahokia

Edwardsville

Taylorville

Roxana

Troy

Jacksonville

Bethalto

Highland

Glen Carbon

Caseyville

Chatham

Greenville

Grafton

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Witt

Breese

Hillsboro

White Hall

Staunton

Virden

Carlinville

Hillsboro

Rochester

Brighton

Benld

Hamel

Carrollton

Wenonah

Gillespie

Madison

Loami

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Chapin

Coffeen

Raymond

Waverly Pawnee

Palmyra

Harvel

Otterville

Scottville

Bunker Hill

Kane

Alsey

Livingston

Fillmore

Roodhouse

Mascoutah

Franklin

Manchester

South Jacksonville

Mount Olive

Worden

New Douglas

Farmersville

Alhambra

Kincaid

Morrisonville

Mount Auburn

Modesto

Dorchester

Rockbridge

Germantown

St. Jacob

Edinburg

Nilwood

Hettick Standard City

Chesterfield

Medora

Panama

Murrayville

Keyesport

Southern View

Waggoner

Walshville

Huey

Grantfork

Old Ripley

Hoffman

MACOUPIN

BOND

GREENE

CHRISTIAN

JERSEY

CLINTON

MADISON

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

SANGAMON

ST. CLAIR

FAYETTE

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Illinois/Indiana Prairies

Middle Mississippi Alluvial Plain

River Hills

Southern Illinoian Till Plain

Upper Mississippi Alluvial Plain

Western Dissected Illinoian Till Plain

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.6-4. Ecoregions (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-28 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Middle Mississippi Alluvial Plain

The potential natural vegetation for this ecoregion is oak–hickory forest.  Today nearly

all of the original forests, prairies, and marshes have been drained and converted to

cropland or pastureland. Main crops are soybeans, corn, and wheat.  Both the alluvial

plain and the river channel have been significantly modified in the last 100 years.

River Hills

The potential natural vegetation for this ecoregion is mostly oak–hickory forest or a

mosaic of bluestem prairie and oak–hickory forest.  Today the region remains mostly

forested.  National Forest land is extensive.  Wooded valleys are important roosting area

for wintering bald eagles.  The River Hill Ecoregion is part of an important forested

habitat corridor along the Mississippi River.

Western Dissected Illinoian Till Plain

The potential natural vegetation for this ecoregion is mostly oak–hickory forest or a

mosaic of bluestem prairie and oak–hickory forest.  Slopes and ravines remain mostly

wooded.  Nearly level interfluves, which were once covered by prairie, are now used as

cropland or livestock farms.  The main crops are corn and soybeans.

4.6.2.2 Vegetation and Habitat

The habitats within the study corridor are a mosaic of agricultural land, existing railroad

right‐of‐way, early successional scrub‐shrub habitats, small forest fragments, wetlands,

riparian corridors, grasslands, and prairie remnants.  The majority of the study corridor

is agriculture land and existing railroad right‐of‐way.

Many animal species can find suitable habitat within the vegetative cover provided by

the railroad right‐of‐way.  The linear, unbroken characteristic of the right‐of‐way not

only offers local microhabitat but also provides a continuous corridor linking a variety

of habitat features.  Depending on the species and the surrounding landscape, the right‐

of‐way can provide an important habitat or their only remaining functional habitat in

the surrounding area (Huijser and Clevenger, 2006).  This corridor linkage can be

important in areas that are dominated by agricultural and urban development. The

habitat and corridor function of rights‐of‐way can help improve the population viability

of meta‐populations of certain species in fragmented landscapes (Huijser and Clevenger,

2006).

Most of the Illinois original forests were cleared for agriculture, fuel wood, fence posts,

transportation, and urban and industrial development.  Sixty one percent of the native

flora and 75 percent of the state’s wildlife habitat are found in Illinois’ forests

(http://dnr.state.il.us/conservation/forestry/IFDA/).  Illinois forests provide habitat for

more than 420 vertebrate species and over 120 bird species utilize Illinois forests for

nesting (http://web.extension.illinois.edu/forestry/il_forest_facts.cfm).

The study corridor spans two ecological provinces: the Eastern Broadleaf Forest and the

Prairie Parkland (Exhibits 4.6‐5 through 4.6‐7).  The largest areas of forests are located in

the center of the study corridor within the Prairie Parkland ecological province.
Lake

Michigan

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦88

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

§ ̈¦94

§ ̈¦290

§ ̈¦190

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦94

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤6

£¤45

£¤30

£¤52

£¤41

WILL

COOK

KANE

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DUPAGE DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS FORD

 ́

Not To Scale

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Eastern Broadleaf Forest

Prairie Parkland

Study Corridor

County Boundary

Exhibit 4.6-5. Ecological Provinces (1 of 3)
§ ̈¦ § ̈¦55 39

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦474 § ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦155

£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤51

Peoria

Decatur

Springfield

Pekin

Normal

Morton

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Bartonville

Pontiac

Washington

Chillicothe

Downs

Eureka

Clinton

Sherman

Le Roy

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Monticello

Rochester

Elkhart

El Paso

Athens

Farmer City

Bellevue

Minonk

Atlanta

Harristown

Heyworth

Gridley Chenoa

Goodfield

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Dawson

Maroa

Tremont

Princeville

Bement

Roanoke

Bloomington

Lexington

Danvers

Williamsville

Minier

Spring Bay

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Hudson

Decatur

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Hammond

Hopewell

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Mapleton

Washburn

Oreana

Wapella

Argenta

Flanagan

Secor

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

Hopedale

McLean

Illiopolis

De Land

Stanford

Dunlap

Rutland

Dana

Warrensburg

Kenney

Southern View

Kappa

De Witt

Weldon

Emden

South Pekin

Panola

Armington

Green Valley

Waynesville

La Rose

Carlock

Benson

Ellsworth

Mechanicsburg

Cooksville

New Holland

Middletown

Arrowsmith

Broadwell

Hartsburg

Dalton City

Fairbury

Lovington

MCLEAN

LOGAN

DEWITT

PIATT

WOODFORD

PEORIA

LIVINGSTON

MENARD

MACON

SANGAMON

MASON

CHRISTIAN

 ́ MOULTRIE

Not To Scale

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Eastern Broadleaf Forest

Prairie Parkland

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

Exhibit 4.6-6. Ecological Provinces (2 of 3)
ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

St. Louis

West Alton

Ladue

Hazelwood

Bridgeton

Florissant

Old Jamestown

Kirkwood

Ferguson

Spanish Lake

Affton

Overland Normandy

Portage Des Sioux

£¤67

£¤50

£¤40

£¤36

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦270

§ ̈¦64 § ̈¦255

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

Godfrey

Alton

Springfield

Granite City

O'Fallon

Collinsville

Cahokia

Edwardsville

Roxana

Troy

Taylorville

Jacksonville

Bethalto

Highland

Glen Carbon

Caseyville

Chatham

Greenville

Grafton

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Witt

Breese

Hillsboro

White Hall

Staunton

Virden

Carlinville

Hillsboro

Rochester

Brighton

Benld

Hamel

Carrollton

Wenonah

Gillespie

Madison

Loami

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Chapin

Mascoutah

Coffeen

Raymond

Waverly Pawnee

Palmyra

Harvel

Otterville

Scottville

Bunker Hill

Kane

Alsey

Livingston

Fillmore

Roodhouse

Franklin

Manchester

South Jacksonville

Mount Olive

Worden

New Douglas

Farmersville

Alhambra

Kincaid

Morrisonville

Mount Auburn

Modesto

Dorchester

Rockbridge

Germantown

St. Jacob

Edinburg

Nilwood

Hettick Standard City

Chesterfield

Medora

Panama

Murrayville

Keyesport

Waggoner

Walshville

Huey

Grantfork

Old Ripley

Hoffman

MACOUPIN

BOND

GREENE

CHRISTIAN

JERSEY

CLINTON

MADISON

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

SANGAMON

ST. CLAIR

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Eastern Broadleaf Forest

Prairie Parkland

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.6-7. Ecological Provinces (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-32 Tier 1 Final EIS 

A diverse mixture of broadleaf deciduous tree species dominates the rolling hills and

flat expanses of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province.  Relatively low precipitation in

the area favors the drought resistance of the oak/hickory forest‐type group (Bailey,

1995).

The Prairie Parkland Province is characterized by an alternating pattern of prairie and

deciduous forest.  Forested portions of the province consist of uplands dominated by

oak and hickory, and moist slopes and floodplains where eastern cottonwood and

American elm are common species.  Grasses are the predominant vegetation in prairies

(Bailey, 1995).

The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission maintains a list of protected areas that are

home to the state’s prairie remnants (further discussion is provided in Natural Areas,

Section 4.6.4.).  These areas are isolated and can be found along cemeteries, roadsides,

railroad tracks, hilltops and areas too wet or sandy for agriculture.  Prairie remnants that

are known to occur within the study corridor are shown on Exhibits 4.6‐8 through 4.6‐

10.

4.6.2.3 Wildlife  

Habitat availability, wildlife species distribution, habitat preference, and field

observations (Federal Highway Administration, 2003) were used to evaluate potential

wildlife within the study corridor.  Given the large area encompassed by the length of

the corridor, some species will only occur in small portions of the study corridor.    

Birds

Some 400 bird species can be found in Illinois and more than 200 of those have been

recorded as nesting in the state.  Illinois falls within the Mississippi Flyway and

supports a wide variety of migratory birds.  Historically, Illinois birds were found in

three basic habitat types: wetland; prairie; and forest.  Today, there are four habitat

types: wetland; forest; agriculture; and urban/suburban.  All four types can be found

along the study corridor.  A fifth habitat type, rangeland, is restricted to areas of native

grassland vegetation.  These include native prairie remnants, many of which are located

along the study corridor.  Native prairie remnants, including their location, are

discussed further under Natural Areas, Section 4.6.4.    

Wetlands provide a variety of foraging and nesting opportunities for many wading

birds (e.g., egrets, herons, bitterns), waterfowl (e.g., ducks, geese, swans), songbirds

(e.g., warblers, sparrows, orioles, finches), and shorebirds (e.g., gulls, terns, plover).  The

thick vegetation provides protection from predators during nesting and the abundance

of aquatic plants, insects, clams, snails, frogs and small fish provide an abundance of

food.  The study corridor crosses many such wetlands, which will be further discussed

under Wetlands, Section 4.11.  

Forests provide a diversity of food and cover sources for resident (e.g., red‐bellied

woodpecker, northern cardinal, American robin) and migrating birds (e.g., scarlet  
Lake

Michigan

Paw Paw Woods

Nature Preserve

Sundrop Prairie

Nature Preserve

Hickory Creek Barrens

Nature Preserve

Long Run Seep

Nature Preserve

Dellwood Park West

Nature Preserve

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

Hitts Siding Prairie

Nature Preserve

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤12

£¤6

£¤45

£¤30

£¤52

£¤41

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦355

WILL

COOK

KANE

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DUPAGE DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS FORD

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Land and Water Reserve

Nature Preserve

Prairie Remant

Study Corridor

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.6-8. Nature Preserves and Prairie Remnants (1 of 3)
 ́

Not To Scale

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

Funks Grove

Nature Preserve

Funks Grove Land

and Water Reserve

Thaddeus Stubblefield

Grove Nature Preserve

Stubblefield Woodlots

Nature Preserve

Prairie Remnant

Prairie Remnant

Elkhart Hill Grove

Nature Preserve

Elkhart Hill Grove Land

and Water Reserve

North Elkhart Hill Grove

Land and Water Reserve

Carpenter Park

Nature Preserve

£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤136

£¤150

£¤150

£¤51

§ ̈¦39 § ̈¦55

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦155

MCLEAN

LOGAN

MACON

TAZEWELL

DEWITT

PIATT

WOODFORD

PEORIA

SANGAMON

LIVINGSTON

MASON

MENARD

MARSHALL

CHRISTIAN MOULTRIE

LASALLE

STARKU.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Land and Water Reserve

Nature Preserve

Prairie Remant

Study Corridor

County Boundary

Exhibit 4.6-9. Nature Preserves and Prairie Remnants (2 of 3)
Prairie Remnant

Denby Prairie

Nature Preserve

Prairie Remnant

ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

£¤67

£¤50

£¤40

£¤36

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦70

§ ̈¦270

§ ̈¦64

§ ̈¦72

MACOUPIN

MADISON

BOND

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

SANGAMON

GREENE

CHRISTIAN

JERSEY

CLINTON

ST. CLAIR

SCOTT

FAYETTE

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Land and Water Reserve

Nature Preserve

Prairie Remant

Study Corridor

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.6-10. Nature Preserves and Prairie Remnants (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-36 Tier 1 Final EIS 

tanager, yellow billed cuckoo, wood thrush).  Many bird species will forage on the fruits,

berries and nuts provided by forest trees and shrubs.  Others may feed on insects found

in and on the trees.  Many predatory birds (e.g., broad winged hawk, eastern screech

owl, American kestrel) rely on the small mammals sheltering in the forest for their

primary food source.  Birds may nest throughout a forest, from high in the trees to

ground leaf litter, as well as the tree cavities in between. There are several forest

communities within the study corridor, the majority of which can be found in the

riparian of streams in the southwestern extent of the study corridor and in Cook,

Dupage, and Will counties in the northern extent of the study corridor.   

Prairie had once covered an estimated 22 million acres of Illinois.  Since settlement and

conversion of prairie to agricultural land, there are now fewer than 2,300 acres of prairie.  

Populations of grassland‐dependent bird species have declined due to the loss of prairie.  

The majority of the study corridor passes through agricultural land.  Along the way are

a few isolated prairie remnants where grassland birds (e.g., bobolink, savannah

sparrow, henslow’s sparrow, eastern meadowlark) find nesting shelter within the tall

grasses and forbs.  While urbanization can lead to the loss or alteration of natural

habitats, some species adapt and move in to the new urban areas.  City parks, golf

courses, backyard feeders, cemeteries and urban ponds can all provide habitat for urban

birds (e.g., morning dove, killdeer, house finch, cedar waxwing, American robin).  Birds‐

of‐prey (e.g., peregrine falcon) have moved into and near cities to prey on bird species

that otherwise have no predators in the urban environment.  There are many urban

communities along the study corridor with the highest concentrations located around

the St. Louis, Chicago, and Springfield metropolitan areas.  

Mammals

The most common Illinois mammals are mice, shrews, rabbits, and squirrels.  Larger

mammals, such as beavers, badgers, and deer are less abundant.  Animals that roamed

the vast prairie and forest lands that were once common to Illinois, such as bison, elk,

bear, wolves, and mountain lions, have now vanished.  Much of the study corridor has

been converted to agricultural land, leaving remnant patches of habitat in forest, prairie,

meadow, fencerow and wetland, which are isolated and separated by vast areas of

agricultural lands.  These isolated patches are found throughout the length of the study

corridor.   

Where these isolated patches of habitat occur, small mammals may be abundant.  

Forests provide a diversity of food and cover sources for mammals.  Skunks, raccoons,

foxes, opossums, mice, and chipmunks may be found on the forest floor.  Bats, flying

squirrels and tree squirrels may be found within the forest canopy, and moles, shrews,

and voles may be found below the forest floor.   

Prairies, meadows and fencerows within the study corridor can provide cover for

rabbits, voles, shrews, ground squirrels, and mice.  Feeding on the small mammal

inhabitants of these areas are examples of larger carnivorous species such as coyote, red

fox, skunk, and weasel.  Wetland and marsh species such as beaver and muskrat may
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-37 Tier 1 Final EIS 

build their homes in the waters of streams, lakes and marshes found within the study

corridor.  These wetlands provide drinking water for all wild mammal species.     

Reptiles and Amphibians

During the past 100 years, urban development, road construction, forest fragmentation,

siltation and chemical pollution of streams, containment of major rivers within levees,

and drainage of wetlands have further altered and fragmented ranges of amphibians

and reptiles (Phillips et al., 1999).  Natural habitats have been modified and converted to

meet human needs, being fragmented by railroads, highways, deforestation, prairie

agriculture, and drainage of great expanses of marsh and floodplain swamps (Phillips et

al., 1999).  Channelization of other streams has eliminated large areas of floodplain and

slough habitats.

Large portions of the southern reach of the study corridor are covered in swampland

and dense forests. The region may be home to many reptiles and amphibians including

multiple species of salamanders, frogs, turtles, snakes and lizards.  Fragmented and

small wetland, forest, or prairie habitats that may occur throughout the central and

northern portions of the study corridor may also provide suitable habitat for numerous

species of amphibians and reptiles. The diversity of reptiles and amphibians that occur

in Illinois may be represented within habitats found in the study corridor.

Twenty species of salamanders, representing six families, occur in Illinois.  The six

families include the hellbender, mudpuppy, lesser siren, eastern newt, mole

salamanders, and lungless salamanders, which occur in water or in cool, high‐humidity

environments in or near the ground where they feed on a variety of other small animals.

Twenty‐one species of frogs and toads, including the leopard frog, bullfrog, eastern

spadefoot, and eastern narrowmouth, occur in similar habitats in Illinois.  These

habitats, such as wetlands, ponds, and streams, are present within the study corridor

and are suitable for a variety of frogs and toads.  

The majority of the eleven species of turtles that occur in Illinois are of the pond and box

turtle family, such as the painted, spotted, or eastern box turtle, while the mud turtle

family has three species, the yellow mud, eastern mud, and stinkpo.  Also occurring in

Illinois are the snapping, alligator snapping, smooth soft shell, and spiny softshell

turtles.  Turtles dwell in forests, prairies, marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, streams, and

rivers.  Habitats that are suitable for a variety of turtles are present within the study

corridor.  

Thirty‐four species of non venomous snakes, such as the eastern worm, racer, northern

water, and common garter snake occur in Illinois.  Additionally, there are four species of

venomous viper: the cottonmouth, copperhead, eastern massasauga, and timber

rattlesnake.  Snakes can be found in every natural habitat in Illinois, and are likely to

occur throughout the study corridor.

There are only six native species of lizard in Illinois representing four families: the fence

lizard, three skinks (i.e., common five‐lined, broad‐headed, ground), the six‐lined
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-38 Tier 1 Final EIS 

racerunner, and the legless slender glass lizard.  Lizards are most abundant in the

southern third of the state in forests, glades, and rocky bluffs.  Lizards that occur in

forests are likely to occur within the study corridor.

Aquatic Species

There are numerous species of fish, mussels, crustaceans, snails, aquatic insects, and

leeches that occur in streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and wetlands in Illinois.  The study

corridor traverses multiple drainage basins, all of which support a variety of aquatic life.  

It is likely that a diversity of organisms will occur within the water resources within the

study corridor.

4.6.2.4 Invasive Species

Human activities, such as moving people and things from place to place and cultivating

plants and animals, result in the accidental or purposeful introduction of species outside

their native range.  The subset of nonnative organisms that cause undesirable changes in

the invaded ecosystem, spread widely, become overly abundant, or reduce native

organisms are termed invasive species

(http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/invasive_species.html.)  The Upper Midwest

Environmental Sciences Center (USGS) lists Asian red carp, Eurasian ruffe, reed canary

grass, round goby, sea lamprey, and zebra mussels as invasive species impacting

Illinois.  These species may be present within the study corridor.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service lists six

plant species as “Invasive and Noxious Weeds.” They are: musk thistle, Canada thistle,

kudzu, perennial sowthistle, Columbus grass and johnsongrass.  Because the study

corridor follows the existing right‐of‐way, which has been previously disturbed, it is

likely that these invasive and noxious weeds are present.  Construction actions that

disturb the soil can spread these invasive species.   

4.6.3 Threatened and Endangered Species 

The 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA) provided for the conservation of ecosystems

upon which threatened and endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants depend.

Section 7 of the ESA requires federal agencies to insure that any action authorized,

funded or carried out by them is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed

species or modify their critical habitat.   

The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act of 1972 is similar to the federal ESA but

is implemented at the state level.  This act gave the Endangered Species Protection Board

the responsibility of identifying species as endangered or threatened and the

Department of Conservation (now IDNR) the authority to develop a permit system for

endangered animals and their products.  The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act

ʺprohibits the possession, taking, transportation, sale, offer for sale, or disposal of any

listed animal or products of listed animals without a permit issued by the Department of

Conservation (IDNR).”
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-39 Tier 1 Final EIS 

By referencing the Natural Heritage Data Base, the USFWS webpage, and the Illinois

Endangered Species Protection Board, a list was developed that included federal and

state threatened and endangered animal and plant species potentially occurring within

the counties that the study corridor traverses (Appendix C).  

Of all the species listed in Appendix C, the endangered Hineʹs emerald dragonfly is the

only species with USFWS designated Critical Habitat that occurs within the study

corridor (Exhibit 4.6‐11).  Critical Habitat is the specific areas within the geographic area,

occupied by the species at the time it was listed, which contain the physical or biological

features that are essential to the conservation of endangered and threatened species and

that may need special management or protection (USFWS, 2011).  Critical Habitat may

also include areas that were not occupied by the species at the time of listing but are

essential to its conservation (USFWS, 2011).  As shown in Exhibit 4.6‐11, there are seven

separate Critical Habitat Units located in the general vicinity of the existing railroad

corridor but only Unit 7 falls completely within the one‐mile wide study area and is

bisected by the railroad right‐of‐way.  All of the other Units fall mostly outside of the

study area.

Segments of the CN and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail lines between Crest

Hill (Will County) and Willow Springs (Cook County) were inventoried for the presence

of the federally and state endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly during the summer of

2010 (Hineʹs Emerald Dragonfly Monitoring, Chicago to St. Louis High Speed Rail, October

2010).  This segment of the CN rail line represents a portion of Section 1 of Alternatives

A and B.  The following are excerpts from the monitoring report’s Executive Summary

regarding the CN rail line.

Along the CN line, the Hine’s emerald dragonfly was documented in moderately high

abundance (0.59 observations per person‐hour) along a 1.1 mile long section south of

135th Street and associated with Long Run Seep Nature Preserve, which is part of

Critical Habitat Unit 7, and adjacent privately owned open space.  A single Hine’s

emerald dragonfly observation was also made approximately 3.25 miles to the south,

near Dellwood Park.  The species was not observed at other locations visited along the

CN line, and very little suitable habitat was identified.  The Hine’s emerald dragonfly is

known to occur along less than seven percent of the 18 miles of CN rail line that was

monitored.

No larval habitat was observed immediately adjacent to the CN rail line.  The nearest

known breeding streamlet is at Long Run Seep Nature Preserve, which is approximately

225‐feet upgradient from the tracks.  Other known streamlets are greater than 0.25‐miles

from the tracks.  

Hine’s Emerald dragonflies spent a minimum of 0.05 and a maximum of 109 seconds

over the rail right‐of‐way during the observation periods.  At any given sample point

within the areas of highest abundance, a Hine’s emerald dragonfly was present over the
Exhibit 4.6-11 Critical Habitat within the Study Corridor – Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly 
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-41 Tier 1 Final EIS 

right‐of‐way less than one tenth of one percent of the observation time during daylight

hours (and during peak summer season in 2010).

At known sites, Hine’s emerald dragonfly observations were fairly evenly distributed

over the hours between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm.  Afternoon and evening abundance could

be high at certain hours on certain days, yet there was an absence of sightings at other

times and/or on other days.  In general afternoon and evening presence was

unpredictable and characterized by brief spikes of activity.  No dragonfly‐train

interactions were observed on the CN line.

In conclusion, within the study area the Hine’s emerald dragonfly is known to be

present over a relatively small percentage of the CN rail corridor.  Within the June

through August 2010 adult flight season, and within the known Illinois activity areas,

the chance of a Hine’s emerald dragonfly being present in any one moment of time at

any one sample point was very small.  Because 2010 Hine’s emerald dragonfly adult

abundance was toward the low end of what has been reported in Illinois over 16 years of

monitoring, the probability of dragonfly presence within the rail corridor could be

higher in some years than those observed in 2010.   

4.6.4 Natural Areas 

Permanently protected by state law, nature preserves are private and public lands that

have rare plants, animals, or other unique natural features

(http://www.dnr.state.il.us/inpc/).  The Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act of 1963

preserves, protects and defends natural areas and endangered species habitat for public

benefit.  The act stipulates that nature preserves be maintained in the natural condition

and be used in a manner consistent with their continued preservation.  The Illinois

Nature Preserves Commission (INPC) maintains a list of the protected areas of Illinois.  

The Illinois Nature Areas Inventory (INAI) – completed in 1978 and undergoing a

thorough update – designates the state’s most rare nature areas. It serves as a guide for

the INPC when determining the eligibility of lands for protection

(http://www.dnr.state.il.us/inpc/).  The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act

requires consultation for INAI sites due to their ecological sensitivity.   

Fifteen protected areas and 13 prairie remnants are located within study corridor.  A

total of 1,600 acres of Nature Preserve, Land and Water Reserve, or Natural Heritage

Landmark are found within the study corridor.  Protected areas located within the study

corridor are identified in Table 4.6‐1 and the previous Exhibits 4.6‐8 through 4.6‐10.   
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-42 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.6‐1.  INPC Protected Areas within Study Corridor

INPC Protected Areas Within Study Corridor 

Area (Acres 

within 

Corridor) 

INPC # 

Paw Paw Woods Nature Preserve 127 NP007

Funks Grove Nature Preserve 15 NP136

Denby Prairie Nature Preserve 3 NP147

Thaddeus Stubblefield Grove Nature Preserve 211 NP232

Hitts Siding Prairie Nature Preserve 280 NP280

Hickory Creek Barrens Nature Preserve 319 NP271

Stubblefield Woodlots Nature Preserve 12 NP156

Carpenter Park Nature Preserve 41 NP069

Elkhart Hill Grove Nature Preserve 15 NP308

Elkhart Hill Grove Land and Water Reserve 17 LWR069

Long Run Seep Nature Preserve 89 NP188

Sundrop Prairie Nature Preserve 113 NP292

North Elkhart Hill Grove Land and Water Reserve 12 LWR123

Dellwood Park West Nature Preserve 121 NP336

Funks Grove Land and Water Reserve 225 LWR145

4.7 Air Quality 

Air quality describes the level of pollution in the air. Individual air pollutants degrade

the atmosphere by reducing visibility, damaging property, reducing the productivity or

vigor of crops or natural vegetation, or harming human or animal health.

As required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments

(CAAA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has established National

Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six major air pollutants. These pollutants,

known as criteria pollutants, are carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), nitrogen dioxide

(NO2), particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). These
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-43 Tier 1 Final EIS 

pollutants are shown in Table 4.7‐1.  The ʺprimaryʺ standards have been established to

protect the public health. The ʺsecondaryʺ standards, intended to protect the nationʹs

welfare, account for air pollutant effects on soil, water, visibility, materials, vegetation,

and other aspects of the general welfare.

In addition to the criteria pollutants, USEPA also regulates air toxics. Mobile source air

toxics (MSATs) are compounds emitted from highway vehicles and non‐road equipment

that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health and environmental

effects. Most air toxics originate from human made sources, including on‐road mobile

sources, non‐road mobile sources (e.g., trains), area sources (e.g., dry cleaners), and

stationary sources (e.g., factories or refineries).   

Also of concern are greenhouse gases (GHG) that trap heat in the atmosphere. These

gases are necessary to life as we know it, since they keep the planet’s surface warmer

than it otherwise would be. As concentrations of greenhouse gases increase, however,

the Earth’s temperature rises. This is known as the “Greenhouse Gas Effect.” Effects of

these rising temperatures include climate change and rising sea levels. With respect to

transportation‐related and other fossil fuel combustion sources, the GHG of primary

concern is CO2.  Other GHGs of concern include methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and

certain fluorinated gases (“F‐gases”).

The criteria pollutants of concern are PM10 and PM2.5 due to the diesel locomotive

emissions, CO due to emissions from roadway vehicles, and ozone.  Ozone is formed

through photochemical reactions between precursor gases – volatile organic compounds

[VOCs] and nitrogen oxides [NOx] – whose sources include the exhaust of internal

combustion engines such as those associated with roadway vehicles and diesel electric

locomotives. The potential impacts on air toxics and GHGs, due to emissions from

roadway vehicles, diesel trains, and related facilities, also are considered.

4.7.1 Existing Conditions 

EPA publishes a list of all geographic areas in compliance with the NAAQS, as well as

those areas not in attainment of the NAAQS. The designation of an area is made on a

pollutant‐by‐pollutant basis.  Areas classified as “attainment areas” comply with the

applicable NAAQS. Areas once classified as nonattainment that have since

demonstrated attainment of the NAAQS are classified as “maintenance areas.” Areas

not in compliance with the NAAQS are classified as “nonattainment areas.”
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-44 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.7‐1.  National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Pollutant 

Primary Standards 

Averaging Form

Time Level Status 

Carbon  

Monoxide

(CO)

8‐hour 9 ppm Current; most recently

affirmed August 2011.

Not to be exceeded more

than once per year. 1‐hour 35 ppm

Lead (Pb) Rolling 3‐

Month Average 0.15 μg/m3

Current.  Designations

completed November

2011.  SIPs addressing

nonattainment areas due

to EPA 2012‐2013.

Not to be exceeded.

Nitrogen  

Dioxide

(NO2)

1‐hour

(primary) 100 ppb Current. 98th percentile, averaged

over 3 years.

Annual 53 ppb Current. Mean.

Particulate  

Matter (PM10) 24‐hour 150 μg/m3 Current.

Not to be exceeded more

than once per year on

average over 3 years.

Particulate  

Matter

(PM2.5)

Annual 15 μg/m3 Current. Annual mean, averaged

over 3 years.

24‐hour

35 μg/m3

Effective 2006.  SIPs

addressing nonattainment

areas due to EPA at end

of 2012.

98th percentile, averaged

over 3 years.

65 μg/m3

Effective 1997.  Related

implementation rules

remain in place.

98th percentile, averaged

over 3 years.

Ozone

8‐hour 0.075 ppm

Effective 2008.  Area

designations issued April

2012.  SIPs addressing

nonattainment areas due

to EPA by 2015.

Annual fourth‐highest

daily maximum 8‐hr

concentration, averaged

over 3 years.

8‐hour 0.08 ppm

Effective 1997.  Related

implementation rules

remain in place.

Annual fourth‐highest

daily maximum 8‐hr

concentration, averaged

over 3 years.

Sulfur  

Dioxide (SO2)

1‐hour

(primary)

75 ppb Current.  Attainment

plans due January 2014.

99th percentile of 1‐hour

daily maximum

concentrations, averaged

over 3 years.

3‐hour

(secondary) 0.5 ppm Current. Not to be exceeded more

than once per year.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-45 Tier 1 Final EIS 

The attainment status of each area affected by the proposed program is provided in

Table 4.7‐2. As shown, all counties affected by the program are classified as attainment

areas for CO and PM10. Several of the counties, however, are classified as nonattainment

for ozone and/or PM2.5.

Table 4.7‐2.  Attainment Status1

County/State 

Pollutant and Attainment Status 

CO Ozone PM10 PM2.5 Pb 

Cook / IL Attainment Nonattainment Attainment Nonattainment Attainment

Grundy (Aux

Sable and

Goose Lake

Townships) /

IL

Attainment Nonattainment Attainment Nonattainment Attainment

Grundy

(remainder) /

IL

Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment

Jersey / IL Attainment Nonattainment Attainment Attainment Attainment

Livingston / IL Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment

Logan / IL Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment

Macoupin / IL Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment

Madison

(Granite City) /

IL

Attainment Nonattainment Attainment Nonattainment Nonattainment

Madison

(remainder) /

IL

Attainment Nonattainment Attainment Nonattainment Attainment

McLean / IL Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment

Sangamon / IL Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment Attainment

St. Clair / IL Attainment Nonattainment Attainment Nonattainment Attainment

Will / IL Attainment Nonattainment Attainment Nonattainment Attainment

St. Louis / MO Attainment Nonattainment Attainment Nonattainment Attainment

Source: EPA, 2012 1 As of February 2012

The CAAA requires federal agencies to ensure that their actions conform to the

appropriate State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP provides for implementation,

maintenance, and enforcement of the NAAQS. General conformity procedures were

established under Section 176(c)(4) of the CAA to provide states a tool to help them
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-46 Tier 1 Final EIS 

improve air quality in areas that do not meet the NAAQS. Under the General

Conformity Rule, federal actions that occur in a nonattainment or maintenance area

must conform to the air quality plans established in the applicable SIP.  The Conformity

Rule ensures:

 Federal activities do not cause or contribute to new violation of NAAQS;

 Actions do not cause additional or worsen existing violations of or contribute to new

violations of the NAAQS; and  

 Attainment of the NAAQSs is not delayed.

As a program being developed under FRA, it falls under the General Conformity Rule,

which requires a conformity determination for each pollutant where the total of direct

and indirect emissions in a nonattainment or maintenance area caused by a federal

action would equal or exceed EPA‐specified significant threshold values.  In Illinois,

general conformity criteria and procedures are set forth in 35 Illinois Administrative

Code 255.  The air quality analysis in this document has been prepared in accordance

with these state regulations.

4.7.2 Ambient Air Quality 

Air quality monitors are located in virtually all counties along the study corridor. Table

4.7‐3 shows data for criteria pollutants of greatest concern within the study corridor–

those for which one or more counties through which the corridor passes are either

nonattainment or recommended by the applicable state to be designated as

nonattainment. Such pollutants include ozone, Pb, SO2, and PM2.5.  For each of these

pollutants, Table 4.7‐3 provides statistical pollutant concentration values relevant to

assessing NAAQS compliance.  These values are provided for each county where the

indicated pollutant is of concern. For each of these pollutants, Table 4.7‐3 then indicates

whether or not the applicable NAAQS was exceeded.

Data are provided for the most recent three years for which comprehensive and official

monitoring data are available.  For each pollutant, at least one violation was

documented within at least one of the counties of concern during at least one of the three

years considered.  However, for ozone, this assertion applies only to the 2008 standard,

which is currently being implemented; it does not apply to the 1997 standard that is the

basis for current attainment planning efforts.  Furthermore, while the documented SO2

violation is currently part of a data set that supports Illinois’ recommendation that four

counties (including Cook and Madison) be designated as nonattainment, no such

designation has yet occurred.  Also, note that determination of attainment status for

some pollutants is based on a multiyear evaluation, whereas any violations indicated in

Table 4.7‐3 are based only on a single year of data.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-47 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.7‐3.  Criteria Air Pollutant Monitoring Data

Pollutant Averaging 

Period Parameter County/State 

Value 

2008 2009 2010 

Ozone 8‐hour Max.

Concentration

(ppm) for 4th‐

Highest Day

Cook / IL 0.071 0.076 0.077

Grundy (Aux Sable and

Goose Lake Townships) / IL

N/A N/A N/A

Jersey / IL 0.069 0.068 0.072

Madison / IL 0.07 0.074 0.08

St. Clair / IL 0.064 0.069 0.072

Will / IL 0.06 0.063 0.065

St. Louis / MO 0.069 0.07 0.076

> 1997 NAAQS

(0.08 ppm,

effectively 0.084

ppm)

Cook / IL No No No

Grundy (Aux Sable and

Goose Lake Townships) / IL

N/A N/A N/A

Jersey / IL No No No

Madison / IL No No No

St. Clair / IL No No No

Will / IL No No No

St. Louis / MO No No No

> 2008 NAAQS

(0.075 ppm)

Cook / IL No Yes Yes

Grundy (Aux Sable and

Goose Lake Townships) / IL

N/A   N/A N/A

Jersey / IL No No No

Madison / IL No No No

St. Clair / IL No No No

Will / IL No No No

St. Louis / MO No No Yes

SO2 1‐hour 99th Percentile

Concentration

(ppb)

Cook / IL N/A N/A 90

Madison / IL N/A N/A 57

> NAAQS (75

ppb)

Cook / IL N/A N/A Yes

Madison / IL N/A N/A No

Pb Rolling 3‐

Month

Average

Maximum

Concentration

Madison (Granite City) / IL I/D 0.12 0.42

> NAAQS (0.15

μg/m3)

Madison (Granite City) / IL I/D No Yes
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-48 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.7‐3.  Criteria Air Pollutant Monitoring Data (continued)

Pollutant Averaging 

Period 

Parameter County/State Value 

2008 2009 2010 

PM2.5 24‐hour 98th Percentile

Concentration

(μg/m3)

Cook / IL 34 33 35

Grundy (Aux Sable and

Goose Lake Townships) / IL

N/A N/A N/A

Jersey / IL 22 19 21

Madison / IL 36 25 29

St. Clair / IL I/D 24 24

Will / IL 31 26 28

St. Louis / MO 26 I/D 27

> 2006 NAAQS

(35 μg/m3)

Cook / IL No No No

Grundy (Aux Sable and

Goose Lake Townships) / IL

N/A N/A N/A

Jersey / IL No No No

Madison / IL Yes No No

St. Clair / IL I/D No No

Will / IL No No No

St. Louis / MO No I/D No

Annual

Mean

Concentration

(μg/m3)

Cook / IL 12.5 12.9 14

Grundy (Aux Sable and

Goose Lake Townships) / IL

N/A N/A N/A

Jersey / IL 10.1 9.9 11.2

Madison / IL 15.7 11.4 14.6

St. Clair / IL I/D 11.7 13

Will / IL 11.7 10.5 11.8

St. Louis / MO 12 I/D 11.2

> NAAQS (15

μg/m3)

Cook / IL No No No

Grundy (Aux Sable and

Goose Lake Townships) / IL

N/A N/A N/A

Jersey / IL No No No

Madison / IL Yes No No

St. Clair / IL I/D No No

Will / IL No No No

St. Louis / MO No I/D No

Source: EPA, 2012 (N/A = Not available; I/D = Insufficient data)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-49 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.8 Noise and Vibration 

4.8.1 Noise Descriptors 

Noise is usually defined as sound that is undesirable because it interferes with speech

communication and hearing, or is otherwise annoying.  Under certain conditions, noise

may cause hearing loss, interfere with human activities, and in various ways may affect

people’s health and well‐being.  

The decibel (dB) is the accepted standard unit for measuring the amplitude of sound

because it accounts for the large variations in sound pressure amplitude.  When

describing sound and its effect on a human population, A‐weighted (dBA) sound

pressure levels are typically used to account for the response of the human ear to

different frequencies.  The term “A‐weighted” refers to a filtering of the noise signal in a

manner corresponding to the way the human ear perceives sound.  The A‐weighted

noise level has been found to correlate well with people’s judgments of the noisiness of

different sounds and has been used for many years as a measure of community noise.  

Exhibit 4.8‐1 illustrates typical A‐weighted sound pressure levels for various noise

sources.  

Community noise levels usually change continuously during the day.  The equivalent

continuous A‐weighted sound pressure level (Leq) is normally used to describe

community noise.  The Leq is the equivalent steady‐state A‐weighted sound pressure

level that would contain the same acoustical energy as the time‐varying A‐weighted

sound pressure level during the same time interval.  The maximum sound pressure level

(Lmax) is the greatest instantaneous sound pressure level observed during a single noise

measurement interval.  

Another descriptor, the day‐night average sound pressure level (Ldn), was developed to

evaluate the total daily community noise environment.  The Ldn is a 24‐hour average

sound pressure level with a 10‐dB time‐of‐day weighting added to sound pressure levels

that occur during the nine nighttime hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.  This nighttime

10‐dB adjustment is an effort to account for the increased sensitivity to nighttime noise

events. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) uses Ldn and Leq to evaluate train

noise impacts at the surrounding communities (USDOT, 2005).

4.8.2 Vibration Descriptors 

Vibration is an oscillatory motion, which can be described in terms of displacement,

velocity, or acceleration.  Displacement, in the case of a vibrating floor, is simply the

distance that a point on the floor moves away from its static position.  The velocity

represents the instantaneous speed of the floor movement, and acceleration is the rate of

change of the speed.  The response of humans, buildings, and equipment to vibration is

normally described using velocity or acceleration.  Velocity will be used in describing

ground‐borne vibration.
S ourc e: Parsons.

SOUND

LEVEL, dBA NOISE SOURCE

INDIVIDUAL OR

COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO

CONTINUOUS NOISE

Threshold of Physical

Discomfort

Hearing Damage Criteria

for 8-Hour Workday

Most Residents Highly Annoyed

Acceptability Limit for

Residential Development

Goal for Urban Area

Threshold of Hearing

No Community Annoyance

Riveting Machine

Ambulance Siren (100’)

Diesel Bus (At Sidewalk)

Inside Boiler Room or

Printing Press Plant

Gas Lawn Mower (100’)

Inside Sports Car, 50 mph

Freight Train (100’)

Car Passby (50’)

Average Urban Area

Inside Department Store

Quiet Rural Area

Inside Business Office

Light Traffic (100’)

Inside Home

110

100

90

80

70

60

0

10

20

30

40

50

120 Commercial Jet Takeoff

(Near Runway)

Piledriver (50’)

Inside Recording Studio

Exhibit 4.8‐1.  Typical A‐Weighted Sound Levels
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-51 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Vibration amplitudes are usually expressed as either peak particle velocity (PPV) or the

root mean square (RMS) velocity.  PPV is used to evaluate the potential for building

damage.  It is defined as the maximum instantaneous peak of the vibration signal.  PPV

is not considered the appropriate measurement for evaluating the human response to

vibration.  RMS is used to evaluate human response, since it takes some time for the

human body to respond to vibration signals.  The RMS of a signal is the square root of

the average of the squared amplitude of the signal.  For sources such as trucks or motor

vehicles, PPV levels are typically 6 to 14 dB higher than RMS levels.  FRA uses the

abbreviation, “VdB”, for vibration decibels for both RMS and PPV to reduce the

potential for confusion with sound decibel (USDOT, 2005).

Decibel notation acts to compress the range of numbers required in measuring vibration.  

Similar to the noise descriptors, Leq and Lmax can be used to describe the equivalent

vibration and the maximum vibration level observed during a single vibration

measurement interval.

Exhibit 4.8‐2 illustrates common vibration sources and the human and structural

responses to ground‐borne vibration.  As shown in Exhibit 4.8‐2, the threshold of

perception for human response is approximately 65 dB; however, human response to

vibration is not usually significant unless the vibration exceeds 70 dB.

4.8.3 Existing Setting 

4.8.3.1 Existing Noise Levels

Existing noise levels were calculated through the study corridor using methodologies

for estimating noise levels from trains from the FRA High Speed Ground Transportation

Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment manual (USDOT, 2005), the Federal Transit

Administration (FTA) Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment manual (USDOT, 2006)

and the FRA Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Noise

Model (USDOT, 2006).  These noise levels are listed in Table 4.8‐1 by section.  (The

sections are defined in Chapter 3.)  The existing noise levels include the noise

contributions from existing intercity passenger, commuter, and freight trains since trains

are the predominant noise source for sensitive receivers adjacent to the tracks.  The

worst‐case noise levels are listed.  Noise levels vary throughout the Chicago to St. Louis

Corridor because the number of existing trains operating within the corridor vary.
Exhibit 4.8‐2.  Typical Levels of Ground‐Borne Vibration

50

60

70

80

100

90

Human/Structural Response

Typical Sources

(50 ft from source)

VELOCITY

LEVEL*

* RMS Vibration Velocity Level in dB relative to 10-6 inches/second

Threshold, minor cosmetic damage Blasting from construction projects

fragile buildings

Bulldozers and other heavy tracked

construction equipment

High speed rail, upper range

Bus or truck over bump

Bus or truck, typical

Rapid transit, upper range

Typical background vibration

Difficulty with tasks such as

reading a VDT screen

Residential annoyance, infrequent

events (e.g. commuter rail)

Residential annoyance, frequent

events (e.g. rapid transit)

Limit for vibration sensitive

equipment. Approximate threshold

for human perception of vibration

Source: High Speed Ground Transportation Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment,

U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration, 1998.

High speed rail, typical
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-53 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.8‐1 Existing Noise Levels

Section 

Noise Level, Ldn (dBA) 

50 feet1 100 feet1 200 feet1 300 feet1

1 71 66 59 56

2 73 68 61 58

3 74 69 61 59

4 74 69 61 59

5 77 73 65 63

6 74 69 61 59

7 74 69 61 59

1 Distance from track centerline

4.8.3.2 Existing Vibration Levels

Existing vibration levels were estimated based on the generalized ground borne

vibration curves included in the FRA and FTA noise and vibration manuals for freight

and passenger rail trains.  These curves provide vibration levels at different distances

from the track.  Vibration is analyzed based on a single train passby per FRA guidelines.  

Since the focus is on a single train passby, it is not necessary to list vibration levels by

section.  The existing vibration levels are listed in Table 4.8‐2.

Table 4.8‐2 Existing Vibration Levels

Vibration Source 

Vibration Level, VdB 

50 feet1 100 feet1 200 feet1 300 feet1

Passenger Train (79 mph)2 77 71 64 59

Freight Train (50 mph) 84 78 72 67

1 Distance from track centerline

2Current maximum operating speed for passenger trains.

4.9 Water Quality/Resources

The study corridor used for water quality/resources is one mile wide (half a mile on

either side of the section alignments).

4.9.1 Surface Water 

There are a total of 216 surface water (i.e., streams and ponds) crossings along the

existing rail corridor.  The majority of the crossings involve culverts (i.e., 154) over small
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-54 Tier 1 Final EIS 

streams while the remaining crossings involve bridges (i.e., 62) over larger streams,

rivers, and open water.  

4.9.2 Drainage Basins 

There are ten major drainage basins found within the study corridor (Table 4.9‐1) (IEPA,

2010).  All of the drainage basins within the study corridor flow to the Mississippi River.  

These basins are shown on Exhibits 4.9‐1 through 4.9‐3.

Table 4.9‐1.  Drainage Basins*

Major River Basin Drainage Area (sq. mi.) Sub-Basins 

Mississippi South Central

River 2,316 Peruque‐Piasa;

Cahokia‐Joachim

Lower Illinois/Macoupin

Creek 3,250 Lower Illinois;

Macoupin

Lower Sangamon River 2,063

South Fork

Sangamon; Lower

Sangamon

Salt Creek of Sangamon River 1,868 Salt

Mackinaw River 1,149 Mackinaw

Vermilion (Illinois) River 1,333 Vermilion

Upper Illinois/Mazon River 4,069

Upper Illinois; Lower

Fox; Lower Illinois‐

Senachwine Lake

Kankakee/Iroquois River 5,167 Kankakee; Iroquois

Des Plaines River 1,455 Des Plaines

Great Lakes/Calumet River 1,764 Little Calumet‐Galien;

Pike‐Root, Chicago

*IEPA, 2010, Appendix B‐1, Illinois EPA Basins

Due to the high demand from agricultural needs, stream channelization is common

throughout the state of Illinois.  This is evident for streams in the Des Plaines, Kankakee

and Sangamon basins and the Vermilion and Mackinaw sub‐basins of the Illinois Basin

(IDNR, 1994).  Surrounding land uses directly influence physical, chemical and

biological aspects of streams and rivers.   
Lake

Michigan

Great Lakes/Calumet

River Basin

Des Plaines

River Basin

Upper Illinois/Mazon

River Basin

Kankakee/Iroquois

River Basin

Vermilion (Illinois)

River Basin

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦88

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

§ ̈¦94

§ ̈¦290

§ ̈¦190

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦94

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤6

£¤45

£¤30

£¤52

£¤41

WILL

COOK

KANE

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DUPAGE DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS FORD

Chicago

Joliet

Aurora

Bartlett

DeKalb

Lisle

Alsip

Elgin

Geneva

Naperville

Orland Park

Bolingbrook

Romeoville

Tinley Park

Plainfield

Kankakee

Wheaton

Batavia

Frankfort

St. Charles Addison

Crete

Morris

Elmhurst

Darien

Lombard

West Chicago

Cicero

Harvey

Oak Lawn

Mokena

New Lenox

Lemont

Marseilles

Itasca

Oswego

Crest Hill

Channahon

Roselle

Pontiac

University Park

Yorkville

Burr Ridge

Chicago Heights

Plano

Sycamore

Oak Forest

Oak Park

Bensenville

Bradley

Warrenville

Joliet

Seneca

Monee

Sugar Grove Bedford Park

Braidwood

Justice

Elburn

Riverdale

Wilmington

Elwood

Virgil

Dwight

Park Ridge

Manteno

Essex

Watseka

Sandwich

Coal City

Hopkins Park

Lily Lake

Beecher

Odell

Norridge

Gilman

Herscher

Lincolnwood

Peotone

Sheridan

Newark

Manhattan

Momence

Clifton

Braceville

Gardner

Ransom

Aroma Park

Hinckley

Ashkum

Waterman

Preston Heights

Mazon

Yorkville

Iroquois

St. Anne

Grant Park

Leland

Danforth

Maple Park

Cabery

Lisbon

Cullom

Ottawa

Minooka

Chebanse

Crescent City

Streator

Donovan

Martinton

Papineau

Reddick

Kempton

Saunemin

Buckingham Irwin

Emington

Campus

Union Hill

Piper City

 ́

Not To Scale

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Des Plaines River

Great Lakes/Calumet River

Kankakee/Iroquois River

Upper Illinois/Mazon River

Vermilion (Illinois) River

Municipality

County Boundary

State Boundary

Exhibit 4.9-1. Drainage Basins (1 of 3)
Vermilion (Illinois)

River Basin

Mackinaw

River Basin

Upper Illinois/Mazon

River Basin

Salt Creek of Sangamon

River Basin

Lower Sangamon

River Basin

§ ̈¦ § ̈¦55 39

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦474 § ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦155

£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤51

Peoria

Decatur

Springfield

Pekin

Normal

Morton

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Bartonville

Pontiac

Washington

Chillicothe

Downs

Eureka

Clinton

Sherman

Le Roy

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Monticello

Rochester

Elkhart

El Paso

Farmer City

Bellevue

Minonk

Atlanta

Harristown

Heyworth

Gridley Chenoa

Goodfield

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Dawson

Maroa

Tremont

Princeville

Bement

Roanoke

Bloomington

Lexington

Danvers

Williamsville

Minier

Spring Bay

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Hudson

Decatur

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Hammond

Hopewell

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Mapleton

Oreana

Wapella

Argenta

Flanagan

Secor

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

Hopedale

McLean

Illiopolis

De Land

Stanford

Dunlap

Rutland

Dana

Warrensburg

Kenney

Southern View

De Witt

Weldon

Emden

Cantrall

South Pekin

Panola

Armington

Green Valley

Waynesville

La Rose

Carlock

Benson

Ellsworth

Mechanicsburg

Cooksville

New Holland

Middletown

Arrowsmith

Broadwell

Hartsburg

Dalton City

Fairbury

Lovington

MCLEAN

LOGAN

DEWITT

PIATT

WOODFORD

PEORIA

LIVINGSTON

MENARD

MACON

SANGAMON

MASON

CHRISTIAN

 ́ MOULTRIE

Not To Scale

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Lower Sangamon River

Mackinaw River

Salt Creek of Sangamon River

Upper Illinois/Mazon River

Vermilion (Illinois) River

Municipality

County Boundary

Exhibit 4.9-2. Drainage Basins (2 of 3)
Lower Sangamon

River Basin

Salt Creek of Sangamon

River Basin

Lower Illinois/Macoupin

Creek Basin

Mississippi South

Central River Basin

ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

MACOUPIN

MADISON

SANGAMON

GREENE

MORGAN

BOND

CHRISTIAN

CLINTON

ST. CLAIR

MONTGOMERY

JERSEY

SCOTT

FAYETTE

CASS

WASHINGTON

MENARD LOGAN

MARION

BROWN

PIKE

St. Louis

West Alton

Oakville

St. Charles

Chesterfield

Arnold

Bridgeton

Hazelwood

Ladue

Ballwin

Old Jamestown

Kirkwood

Fenton Mehlville

Ferguson

Spanish Lake

Byrnes Mill

Riverview

Portage Des Sioux

£¤50

£¤40

£¤67

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦255

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦72

Godfrey

Springfield

Alton

Belleville

Shiloh

O'Fallon

Collinsville

Edwardsville

Columbia

Taylorville

Roxana

Troy

Jacksonville

Dupo Mascoutah

Bethalto

Centralia

Highland

Chatham

Greenville

Grafton

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Freeburg

Witt

Hillsboro

Sherman

White Hall

Staunton

Virden

Lebanon

Carlinville

Okawville

Brighton

Benld

Hamel

Carrollton

Wenonah

Loami

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Chapin

Virginia

Coffeen

Millstadt

Raymond

Waverly

Ramsey

Glasgow

Marine

Hillview

Bunker Hill

Kane

New Berlin

Sandoval

Livingston

Fillmore

Meredosia

Roodhouse

Irvington

Franklin

Manchester

Mount Olive

Williamsville

Ashland

New Douglas

Farmersville

Pleasant Plains

Alhambra

Arenzville

Athens

Brussels

Mulberry Grove

Pana

Edinburg

Nilwood

Owaneco

Blue Mound

Hettick

Oconee

Chesterfield

Hoffman

Medora

Panama

Woodson

Stonington

Keyesport

Bartelso

Patoka

Waggoner

Fieldon

Huey

Damiansville

Eldred

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Lower Illinois/Macoupin Creek

Lower Sangamon River

Mississippi South Central River

Salt Creek of Sangamon River

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.9-3. Drainage Basins (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-58 Tier 1 Final EIS 

The many ponds, lakes, streams and rivers that surround the study corridor support a

wide array of aquatic life forms.  Survival, growth, and reproductive success of aquatic

species often require a narrow set of habitat requirements.  Aquatic habitat conditions

include physical and water quality variables (Wilcox, 1993).  A number of specialized

communities exist on the water surface, in the water column, on or in cover structures,

and on or in the substrate (Wilcox, 1993). Habitat conditions in running water can be

defined using descriptors of water temperature, dissolved gases, dissolved solids,

suspended solids, current velocity, turbulence, depth, substrate type, light, and cover

(Hynes, 1970; Gorman and Karr, 1978; Statzner et al., 1988; Wilcox, 1993).  The character

of the channel bed may be the primary physical factor influencing the distribution and

abundance of aquatic invertebrates (Ivens et al., 1981).

4.9.3 Water Quality 

The Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) sets water quality standards based upon the

degree to which a water feature provides the “designated use.”  The degree of support

(attainment) of a designated use in a particular stream segment is determined by an

analysis of various types of information, including biological, physicochemical, physical

habitat, and toxicity data (IEPA, 2010).  Each applicable designated use in each segment

is assessed as Fully Supporting (good) or Not Supporting (fair/poor) (IEPA, 2010).  

Waters in which at least one applicable use is not fully supported are called “impaired”

(IEPA, 2010).     

For Illinois streams, the major potential causes of impairment, based on number of miles

affected, are fecal coliform bacteria impairing swimming (primary contact) use, mercury

and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish tissue impairing fish consumption use, and

low dissolved oxygen, high nutrients, excessive siltation, physical‐habitat alterations,

and high suspended solids which impair aquatic life use (IEPA, 2010).  The Clean Water

Act requires that all states compile a list of impaired and threatened waters.  This list is

referred to as the “303(d) list”.  The US Geological Survey (USGS) developed a

standardized watershed classification system where watershed/basin boundaries are

organized in a nested hierarchy by size.  A watershed address consists of a name and

number, called a hydrologic unit codes (HUC).  Stream basins, with hydrologic unit

codes (HUC) of ten digits (HUC 10) and more specifically, twelve digits (HUC 12), that

are crossed by the study corridor that have been listed in the Illinois 303(d) (2010)

impairment list are included below in Table 4.9‐2.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-59 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.9‐2.  303(d) Listed Impaired Waters in the Study Corridor

HUC_10_ HUC_12_ Designated Uses Impairment Listing 

Kankakee River Prairie Creek Fish Consumption/

Public Water Supplies

Mercury, Polychlorinated

biphenyls/Manganese

Kankakee River

City of

Wilmington‐

Kankakee River

Fish Consumption/

Public Water Supplies

Mercury, Polychlorinated

biphenyls/Manganese

North Branch

Chicago River‐

Chicago

Sanitary and

Ship Canal

South Branch

Chicago River‐

Chicago

Sanitary and

Ship Canal

Fish Consumption Polychlorinated biphenyls

Calumet Sag

Channel‐Little

Calumet River

Calumet Sag

Channel Fish Consumption Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls

Calumet Sag

Channel‐Little

Calumet River

Midlothian

Creek Fish Consumption Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls

Calumet Sag

Channel‐Little

Calumet River

Little Calumet

River

Fish

Consumption/Aquatic

Life/Indigenous

Aquatic Life/Primary

Contact Recreation

Mercury, Polychlorinated

biphenyls/chlordane,endrin,fluoride,hex

achlorobenzene,oil&grease,sedimentatio

n‐siltation, total phosphorus (fluoride,

sedimentation‐siltation, pH, total

phosphorus)/aldrin, iron, silver, total

phosphorus/fecal coliform

Hickory Creek Hickory Creek Aquatic Life, Primary

Contact Recreation

Chloride, total phosphorus, Arsenic,

Chloride, total phosphorus, chloride,

total suspended solids, total

phosphorus/fecal coliform

Hickory Creek Spring Creek Aquatic life Manganese, sedimentation‐siltation,

total phosphorus

Chicago

Sanitary and

Ship Canal‐Des

Plaines River

Flag Creek Aquatic Life Arsenic, DDT, hexachlorobenzene,

methoxychlor, total phosphorus
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-60 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.9‐2.  303(d) Listed Impaired Waters in the Study Corridor (continued)

HUC_10_ HUC_12_ Designated Uses Impairment Listing 

Chicago

Sanitary and

Ship Canal‐Des

Plaines River

Saganashkee

Slough‐

Calumet Sag

Channel

Aesthetic

Quality/Aquatic

Life/Fish Consumption

Total suspended solids, total

phosphorus/nickel, sedimentation‐

siltation, silver, total suspended solids,

total phosphorus/polychlorinated

biphenyls

Chicago

Sanitary and

Ship Canal‐Des

Plaines River

Maple Lake‐

Chicago

Sanitary and

Ship Canal

Aesthetic Quality Total phosphorus

Des Plaines

River Grant Creek Aquatic Life Unknown

Des Plaines

River

Des Plaines

River

Fish Consumption,

Aquatic Life

Mercury, polychlorinated

biphenyls/Arsenic, copper,

methoxychlor, polychlorinated

biphenyls ,sedimentation‐siltation, total

suspended solids, total phosphorus

Des Plaines

River Sugar Run Aquatic Life Arsenic, manganese, sedimentation‐

siltation, pH

Des Plaines

River Jackson Creek Aquatic Life Zinc, Total Phosphorus

Granary Creek‐

Mazon River

Town of

Godley‐Mazon

River

Fish Consumption Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls

Mazon River Jackson Creek‐

Mazon River

Fish

Consumption/Primary

Contact Recreation

Mercury, Polychlorinated

biphenyls/Fecal Coliform

North Fork

Vermilion River

Smiths Branch‐

Vermilion River

Fish

Consumption/Primary

Contact

Recreation/Public

Water Supplies

Mercury/Fecal Coliforms/total dissolved

solids, nitrogen, nitrate

Upper

Vermilion River

Turtle Creek‐

Upper

Vermilion River

Public Water Supplies Nitrogen, Nitrate
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-61 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.9‐2.  303(d) Listed Impaired Waters in the Study Corridor (continued)

HUC_10_ HUC_12_ Designated Uses Impairment Listing 

Buck Creek‐

Mackinaw

River

Turkey Creek Aquatic Life Total phosphorus

Buck Creek‐

Mackinaw

River

Loving Branch‐

Mackinaw

River

Fish Consumption Polychlorinated biphenyls

Sixmile Creek‐

Mackinaw

River

Evergreen

Lake‐Sixmile

Creek

Fish Consumption Mercury

Sugar Creek Sugar Creek

Channel Aquatic Life Boron, Total Phosphorus

Sugar Creek

Lake

Springfield‐

Sugar Creek

Aesthetic Quality Total suspended solids, total

phosphorus

Sugar Creek Hoover Branch‐

Sugar Creek Aquatic Life Sedimentation‐siltation

Sugar Creek

Town of

Shirley‐Sugar

Creek

Aquatic Life Total phosphorus, and unknown

Sugar Creek City of Normal‐

Sugar Creek Aquatic Life Total phosphorus, and unknown

Sugar Creek

Town of

McLean‐Sugar

Creek

Aquatic Life Total phosphorus, and unknown

Judys Branch‐

Mississippi

River

Horseshoe Lake Aesthetic Quality/Fish

Consumption

Total suspended solids, total

phosphorus/Polychlorinated biphenyls

4.9.4 Special Status Streams 

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public

Law 90‐542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural,

cultural, and recreational values in a free‐flowing condition for the enjoyment of present

and future generations (www.rivers.gov).  Rivers are classified as wild, scenic, or

recreational based on the following criteria:

 Wild river areas — Those rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments

and generally inaccessible except by trail, with watersheds or shorelines essentially

primitive and waters unpolluted. These represent vestiges of primitive America.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-62 Tier 1 Final EIS 

 Scenic river areas — Those rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments,

with shorelines or watersheds still largely primitive and shorelines largely

undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads.

 Recreational river areas — Those rivers or sections of rivers that are readily

accessible by road or railroad, that may have some development along their

shorelines, and that may have undergone some impoundment or diversion in the

past.

Streams within the study corridor considered to have outstanding resource value

according to the National Parks Service include: Des Plaines River, Mazon River,

Vermilion of the Illinois River, Vermilion river, Mackinaw River, Sangamon River,

Manhattan Creek and Kickapoo Creek. These streams are shown on Exhibit 4.9‐4.  None

of the rivers within the study corridor are considered Wild, Scenic or Recreational areas

by federal or state agencies.  

In 1992, the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) published a list of biologically

significant streams (BSS) for the purpose of conserving biodiversity across the state

(http://www.dnr.state.il.us/orc/BioStrmRatings/).  Streams within the study corridor that

are considered biologically significant streams include: Kankakee River, Vermilion

River, Salt Creek, Wolf Creek, and Kickapoo Creek (http://www.dnr.state.il.us/orc/

BioStrmRatings).  These streams are shown on Exhibit 4.9‐5.

The Nationwide Rivers Inventory (NRI) is a listing of more than 3,400 free‐flowing river

segments in the United States that are believed to possess one or more ʺoutstandingly

remarkableʺ natural or cultural values judged to be of more than local or regional

significance.  Under a 1979 Presidential Directive, and related Council on Environmental

Quality procedures, all federal agencies must seek to avoid or mitigate actions that

would adversely affect one or more NRI segments.  Segments within the study corridor

include the following:  Des Plaines River (Cook, Dupage), Mackinaw River (McLean),

Mazon River (Grundy, Livingston), and Sangamon River (McLean, Sangamon). (http:

//www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/nri/states/il.html)  These segments are shown on

Exhibits 4.9‐6 through 4.9‐8.

Navigable waters of the United States are waters defined as all navigable waters of the

United States, and tributaries of such waters as interstate waters; intrastate lakes, rivers,

and streams which are utilized by interstate travelers for recreational or other purposes;

and intrastate lakes, rivers, and streams from which fish or shellfish are taken and sold

in interstate commerce (http://www.epa.gov/osweroe1/content/spcc/spcc_nov08

waters.htm).  The United States Army Corps of Engineers issues permits for impacts to

navigable waters or waters with a significant nexus to a navigable water.  As a result,

any navigable waters or any streams and wetlands crossed by the study corridor that

may be considered to have a significant nexus with navigable waters would require

permits.  Navigable waters within the study corridor include the Kankakee River,  

Mackinaw River, Mississippi River, Sangamon River, Salt Creek, and Sugar Creek.  

These waters are shown on Exhibits 4.9‐6 through 4.9‐8.
Manhattan Creek

Des Plaines River

Vermilion of the

Illinois River

Mackinaw River

Sangamon River

Lake

Michigan INDIANA

ILLINOIS

Kickapoo Creek

Vermilion River

Mazon River

MISSOURI

£¤52

£¤40

£¤6

£¤150

£¤34

£¤50

£¤67

£¤30

£¤136

£¤51

£¤36

£¤45

£¤12

£¤20 £¤41

£¤51

£¤136

£¤45

£¤67

£¤52

£¤6

£¤50

£¤52

£¤6

£¤51

£¤150

£¤51 £¤45

£¤51

£¤150

§ ̈¦88

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦70

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦270

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦57

Peoria

Springfield

Decatur

Godfrey

Pekin

Danville

Normal

DeKalb

Galesburg

Bolingbrook

Shiloh

Champaign

Frankfort

Cahokia

Mattoon

Dixon

Canton

Paris

Taylorville

Olney

Rantoul

Palatine

Lincoln

Oswego

Bethalto

Highland

Pontiac

Vandalia

Streator

Princeton

Hennepin

Greenville

Pana

Auburn

Jerseyville

Hampshire

Downs

Aledo

Robinson

Havana

Fulton

Dwight

Clinton

Shelbyville

Erie

Sherman

Hardin

Winnetka

Savanna

Pearl

Paxton

Gilman

Beardstown

Gibson Hoopeston

Tuscola

Tolono

Lacon

Sullivan

Hopkins Park

Newton

Manito

El Paso

Iuka

Atlanta

Amboy

Batchtown

Lewistown

Rushville

Sheridan Ohio

Niantic

Godley

Homer

Shipman

Orion

Abingdon

Girard

Kansas

Petersburg

Waverly

Macon

Harvel

Kampsville

Scottville

Farmington

Meredosia

Rio

Sibley

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Newman

Ashland

Mount Pulaski

Cordova

Roberts

Parkersburg

Stewardson

Birds

Hooppole

Reynolds

Ellisville

 ́

Not To Scale

Outstanding Resource Value Stream

Interstate Highway

U.S. Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

State Boundary

Exhibit 4.9-4. Outstanding Resource Value Streams
Kankakee River

Vermilion River

Salt Creek

Lake

Michigan INDIANA

ILLINOIS

Kickapoo Creek

Wolf Creek

MISSOURI

£¤40

£¤6

£¤24

£¤150

£¤34

£¤50

£¤67

£¤30

£¤136

£¤51

£¤36

£¤52

£¤45

£¤12

£¤20

£¤136

£¤45

£¤51

£¤51

£¤6

£¤51

£¤52

£¤150

£¤6

£¤150

£¤51

£¤50

£¤45

£¤67 £¤150

£¤51

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦70

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦39

§ ̈¦255

§ ̈¦94

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦72 Springfield

Aurora

Decatur

Godfrey

Danville

DeKalb

Galesburg

Champaign

Granite City

Lisle

Frankfort

Mattoon

Canton

Paris

Taylorville

Olney

Roxana

Rantoul

Rochelle

Lincoln

Effingham

Highland

Vandalia

Streator

Princeton

Hennepin

Chatham

Bradley

Geneseo

Braidwood

Jerseyville

Aledo

Robinson

Havana

Fulton

Virgil

Dwight

Clinton

Shelbyville

Erie

Hardin

Rome

Pearl

Paxton

Gilman

Beardstown

Gibson

Tuscola

Tolono

Lacon

Staunton

Sullivan

Hopkins Park

Newton

Virden

Iuka

Amboy

Batchtown

Lewistown

Rushville

Ohio

Niantic

Homer

Newark

Orion

Abingdon

Kansas

West Salem

Macon

Kampsville

Kilbourne

Farmington

Rio

Versailles

Cornell

Mason City

Newman

Mount Pulaski

Arenzville

Annawan

Sorento

Roberts

Grant Park

Cissna Park

Stewardson

Tampico

Reynolds

Ellisville

Allendale

Chadwick

Ellsworth

 ́

Not To Scale

Biologically Significant Stream

Interstate Highway

U.S. Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

State Boundary

Outstanding Resource Value Streams

Exhibit 4.9-5. Biologically Significant Streams
Lake

Michigan

Des Plaines River

Kankakee River*

Henline Creek

Mazon River

Manhattan Creek

Vermilion River - Illinois Drainage

Mazon River Bed

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦88

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

§ ̈¦94

§ ̈¦290

§ ̈¦190

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦94

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤12

£¤6

£¤45

£¤30

£¤41

WILL

COOK

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DUPAGE DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS

Fox River

Des Plaines River

Kankakee River

Illinois River

Salt Creek

Johnny Run

Rock Creek

Exline Slough

Pike Creek

Trim Creek

Iroquois River

Thorn Creek

Nettle Creek

Beaver Creek

Gar Creek

Mill Creek

Deer Creek

Hickory Creek

Hog Run

Plum Creek

Poplar Creek

Otter Creek

Farr Creek

Tinley Creek

Walley Run

Fraction Run

Rayns Creek

Buck Branch

Stony Creek

Rat Run

Prairie Creek

Deer Creek

Prairie Creek

Chicago

Joliet

Aurora

Bartlett

DeKalb

Glenview

Alsip

Geneva

Elgin

Naperville

Orland Park

Bolingbrook

Romeoville

Skokie

Schaumburg

Tinley Park

Lisle

Plainfield

Kankakee

Wheaton

Batavia

Niles

Frankfort

Addison

St. Charles

Crete

Morris

Darien

Downers Grove

Cicero

Hoffman Estates

Wayne

Harvey

Oak Lawn

Mokena New Lenox

Marseilles

Itasca

Oswego

Evanston

Channahon

University Park

Pontiac

Dolton Yorkville

Montgomery

Plano

Sycamore

Steger

Bradley

Burbank

Seneca

Sugar Grove

Minooka

Braidwood

Justice

Elburn

Wilmington

Elwood

Virgil

Dwight

Hampshire

Manteno

Essex

Genoa

Sandwich

Coal City

Hopkins Park

Beecher

Odell

Cortland

Lincolnwood

Posen

Herscher

Peotone

Sheridan

Lakewood Shores

Newark

Manhattan

Momence

Clifton

Braceville

Gardner

Ransom

Aroma Park

Hinckley

Ashkum

Waterman

Cornell

Mazon

Kingston

St. Anne

Millington

Maple Park

Somonauk

Cabery

Lisbon

Cullom

Donovan

South Wilmington

Bonfield

Martinton

Reddick

DeKalb

Kempton

Saunemin

Buckingham

Verona

Hopkins Park

Emington

Campus

Kinsman

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.9-6. Aquatic Features (1 of 3)

Navigable Waters of the United States

Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Site

Nationwide Rivers Inventory

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

*Stream also listed as part of the Illinois

 Natural Areas Inventory
Mackinaw River*

Sangamon River

Sugar Creek

Salt Creek

Sangamon River

Timber Creek

Vermilion River - Illinois Drainage

(Rooks Creek)

Kickapoo Creek

Vermilion River - Illinois Drainage

§ ̈¦ § ̈¦55 39

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦474 § ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦155

£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤51

Salt Creek

Sangamon River

Sugar Creek

Illinois River

Rooks Creek

Deer Creek

Lake Fork

Prairie Creek

Mud Creek

Snag Creek

Dillon Creek

Crow Creek

Rock Creek

Goose Creek

Coon Creek

Fancy Creek

Farm Creek

Grove Creek

Long Creek

Crane Creek

Turtle Creek

Fargo Run

Kings Mill Creek

Lick Creek

Spring Creek

Whitten Branch

Willow Branch

Gilfillan Creek

North Quiver Ditch

Vincent Run

Peoria

Decatur

Springfield

Pekin

Normal

Morton

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Bartonville

Pontiac

Washington

Chillicothe

Peoria Heights

Downs

Eureka

Clinton

Sherman

Le Roy

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Monticello

Rochester

Elkhart

El Paso

Athens

Farmer City

Bellevue

Atlanta

Harristown

Heyworth

Chenoa

Goodfield

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Dawson

Maroa

Tremont

Princeville

Bement

Roanoke

Bloomington

Lexington

Danvers

Williamsville

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Hudson

Decatur

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Hammond

Hopewell

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Mapleton

Washburn

Oreana

Wapella

Congerville

Argenta

Secor

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

Hopedale

McLean

Illiopolis

De Land

Dunlap

Rutland

Warrensburg

Kenney

Southern View

Kappa

De Witt

Weldon

Latham

Emden

South Pekin

Panola

Armington

Green Valley

Waynesville

La Rose

Benson

Ellsworth

Mechanicsburg

Cooksville

New Holland

Middletown

Arrowsmith

Broadwell

Hartsburg

Dalton City

Fairbury

Lovington

MCLEAN

LOGAN

DEWITT

PIATT

WOODFORD

PEORIA

LIVINGSTON

MENARD MACON

TAZEWELL

SANGAMON

MASON

CHRISTIAN

 ́ MOULTRIE

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.9-7. Aquatic Features (2 of 3)

Navigable Waters of the United States

Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Site

Nationwide Rivers Inventory

Study Corridor

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Municipality

County Boundary

*Stream also listed as part of the Illinois

 Natural Areas Inventory
Sangamon River

Mississippi River

ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

St. Louis

West Alton

Ladue

Hazelwood Florissant

Old Jamestown

Kirkwood

Ferguson

Spanish Lake

St. Ann

Affton

Bellefontaine Neighbors

Portage Des Sioux

£¤67

£¤50

£¤40

£¤36

Macoupin Creek

Silver Creek

Cahokia Creek

Apple Creek

Sugar Creek

Beaver Creek

Horse Creek

Brush Creek

Indian Creek

Joes Creek

Dry Fork

Bear Creek

Sugar Fork

Piasa Creek

Otter Creek

Nassa Creek

Lick Creek

Prairie Fork

Coop Branch

Phils Creek

Brushy Fork

Sherry Creek

Panther Creek

Wolf Run

Bearcat Creek

Honey Creek

Lake Fork

Dry Branch

Grove Branch

Ogles Creek

Big Branch

May Branch

Cress Creek

Spring Branch

Black Creek

Coon Run

Plum Creek

Mooney Branch

Flat Creek

Indian Creek

Sugar Creek

Bear Creek

Lick Creek

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦64 § ̈¦255

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦55

Springfield

Godfrey

Alton

O'Fallon

Collinsville

Cahokia

Edwardsville

Taylorville

Roxana

Troy

Jacksonville

Bethalto

Highland

Glen Carbon

Chatham

Maryville

Greenville

Grafton

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Witt

Breese

Hillsboro

White Hall

Staunton

Virden

Carlinville

Hillsboro

Rochester

Brighton

Benld

Hamel

Carrollton

Wenonah

Gillespie

Loami

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Chapin

Coffeen

Raymond

Waverly Pawnee

Palmyra

Harvel

Otterville

Scottville

Bunker Hill

Kane

Alsey

Livingston

Fillmore

Roodhouse

Franklin

Manchester

South Jacksonville

Mount Olive

Worden

New Douglas

Farmersville

Alhambra

Kincaid

Morrisonville

Mount Auburn

Modesto

Dorchester

Rockbridge

Germantown

St. Jacob

Nilwood

Hettick Standard City

Chesterfield

Medora

Panama

Murrayville

Woodson

Keyesport

Southern View

Waggoner

Walshville

Grantfork

Old Ripley

Hoffman

MACOUPIN

BOND

GREENE

CHRISTIAN

JERSEY

CLINTON

ST. CLAIR

MADISON

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

SANGAMON

FAYETTE

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.9-8. Aquatic Features (3 of 3)

Navigable Waters of the United States

Nationwide Rivers Inventory

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-68 Tier 1 Final EIS 

The INAI provides a set of information about high quality natural areas, habitats of

endangered species, and other significant natural features.  INAI streams within the

study corridor include the Kankakee River, Mackinaw River, Vermillion River (Illinois

drainage), Vermillion River (Rooks Creek), Timber Creek, Manhattan Creek, and Salt

Creek.  These streams are shown on Exhibits 4.9‐6 through 4.9‐8.   

4.9.5 Groundwater 

An aquifer is an area containing saturated (with groundwater) soils and geologic

materials that are sufficiently permeable to readily yield economically useful quantities

of water to wells, springs, or streams under ordinary hydraulic gradients

(http://dot.state.il.us/water.html).  Illinois aquifers are generally composed of unlithified

well‐sorted sand and gravel deposits, or bedrock units composed of porous sandstone,

or fractured carbonate bedrock (Berg et al., 1984).  Within the study corridor, sand and

gravel aquifers can be found in the Cook, Logan, Madison, McLean, Sangamon, and Will

counties.  Shallow bedrock aquifers are located in Cook and Will counties, while deep

bedrock aquifers are found in other areas of northeastern Illinois.   

Approximately 70 percent of community water supplies (CWS) in the state withdraw

water from confined aquifers that have natural geologic protection from surface and

near surface activities (http://www.gwpc.org/e‐ library/documents/state_fact_sheets/

illinois.pdf).  In many industrialized parts of the state (including the metropolitan areas

of Chicago, Rockford, and East St. Louis), groundwater in glacial deposits and bedrock

aquifers has been degraded by improperly contained or disposed of chemicals

(http://www.gwpc.org/e‐library/documents/state_fact_sheets/illinois.pdf).  Groundwater

resources are most susceptible in shallow coarse grained aquifers.  In these areas the

potential for contamination becomes high (Berg and Kempton 1984) due to proximity to

the surface and rapid recharge.  The study corridor includes 165,000 acres of areas with

shallow course grained aquifers.

There are 245 CWS wells located within the study corridor.  Many of these wells have

established setbacks of 200 feet or more, and construction may be restricted within the

setback zone.  There are 113 wells associated with wellhead protection areas within the

study corridor.  Communities may have local ordinances that control land use within

the wellhead protection area or setback zone.   

There are eight CWS that have designated surface water protection areas crossed by the

study corridor.  These include five Zone 1 areas.  Zone 1 areas are protected zones that

extend 0.25 mile upstream of CWS intakes.  These zones represent a maximum 5‐hour

travel time of contaminants to the intake.  Three CWS have designated the entire

watershed above their intakes as source water protection zones.  The management of

these watersheds may vary by community but may include land use restrictions, use of

best management practices, and notification of the use and storage of chemicals.

Exhibits 4.9‐9 through 4.9‐11 show the location of areas of shallow coarse grained

aquifers, CWS wells, wellhead protection areas, Zone 1 surface water protection areas

and CWS watersheds.
Lake

Michigan

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦88

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

§ ̈¦94

§ ̈¦290

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦355

§ ̈¦90

£¤6

£¤24

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤45

£¤41

£¤6

£¤45

£¤45

£¤30

£¤52

Chicago

Joliet

Aurora

DeKalb

Lisle

Geneva

Naperville

Orland Park

Bolingbrook

Romeoville

Tinley Park

Plainfield

Kankakee

Wheaton

Batavia

Frankfort

Addison

Alsip

St. Charles

Crete

Elmhurst

Matteson

Darien

Lombard

West Chicago

Cicero

Harvey

Wayne

Oak Lawn

Mokena

New Lenox

Lemont

Marseilles

Oswego

Crest Hill

Channahon

Lockport

Pontiac

University Park

Dolton Yorkville

Burr Ridge

Oak Park

Bradley

Warrenville

Burbank

Seneca

Monee

Homewood

Braidwood

Elburn

Wilmington

Franklin Park

Elwood

Virgil

Dwight

Manteno

Essex

McCook

Watseka Gilman

Sandwich

Coal City

Hopkins Park

Lily Lake

Beecher

Odell

Herscher

Peotone

Sheridan

Fairbury Chenoa

Newark

Manhattan

Momence

Braceville

Gardner

Ransom

Aroma Park

Hinckley

Ashkum

Waterman

Cornell

Mazon

Chatsworth

Sugar Grove

St. Anne

Grant Park

Danforth

Maple Park

Piper City

Cabery

Lisbon

Yorkville

Woodland

Cullom

Crescent City Sheldon

Bonfield

Martinton

Papineau

Reddick

Kempton

Saunemin

Buckingham Irwin

Verona

Emington

Campus

Streator

Leland

Symerton

WILL

LIVINGSTON

KANE

LASALLE

KENDALL

DEKALB

FORD

COOK

IROQUOIS

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

!( CWS Wells

!( Wellhead Protection Area

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Watershed for CWS

Setbacks for CWS Wells

Wellhead Protection Areas

Surface Water Protection Area

Shallow Aquifer

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.9-9. Water Supply Resources (1 of 3)
£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤150

£¤51

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦39

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦72

Peoria

Springfield

Decatur

Pekin

Normal

Morton

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Pontiac

Washington

Chatham

Peoria Heights

Downs

Clinton

Sherman

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Manito

Rochester

Elkhart

Athens

Farmer City

Bellevue

Heyworth

Gridley Chenoa

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Macon

Maroa

Roanoke

Lexington

Danvers

Loami

Williamsville

Minier

Glasford

Spring Bay

Bethany

Delavan

Mason City

Hudson

Colfax

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Minonk

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Oreana

Wapella

Congerville

Argenta

Flanagan

Secor

Edinburg

Petersburg

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

Dalton City Lovington

Hanna City

Blue Mound

Forest City

De Land

Stanford

Dunlap

Warrensburg

Kenney

De Witt

Weldon

South Pekin

Armington

Easton

Green Valley

Waynesville

Carlock

Benson

Ellsworth

Cooksville

New Holland

Middletown

Decatur

Broadwell

Springfield

LOGAN

SANGAMON

MASON

PIATT

MENARD

LIVINGSTON

MOULTRIE

MCLEAN

MACON

DEWITT

PEORIA

WOODFORD

!( CWS Wells

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Watershed for CWS

Setbacks for CWS Wells

Wellhead Protection Areas

Surface Water Protection Area

Shallow Aquifer

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.9-10. Water Supply Resources (2 of 3)
ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

St. Louis

West Alton

Ladue

Hazelwood Florissant

Old Jamestown

Kirkwood

Ferguson

Spanish Lake

Overland

St. Ann

Affton

Normandy

Portage Des Sioux

£¤67

£¤50

£¤40

£¤36

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦270

§ ̈¦64 § ̈¦255

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦55

Springfield

Godfrey

Alton

Granite City

O'Fallon

Collinsville

Cahokia

Edwardsville

Taylorville

Roxana

Troy

Jacksonville

Bethalto

Highland

Glen Carbon

Caseyville

Chatham

Greenville

Grafton

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Witt

Breese

Hillsboro

White Hall

Staunton

Virden

Carlinville

Hillsboro

Rochester

Brighton

Benld

Hamel

Carrollton

Wenonah

Gillespie

Madison

Loami

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Chapin

Coffeen

Raymond

Waverly Pawnee

Palmyra

Harvel

Otterville

Scottville

Bunker Hill

Kane

Alsey

Livingston

Fillmore

Roodhouse

Mascoutah

Franklin

Manchester

South Jacksonville

Mount Olive

Worden

New Douglas

Farmersville

Alhambra

Kincaid

Morrisonville

Mount Auburn

Modesto

Dorchester

Rockbridge

Germantown

St. Jacob

Edinburg

Nilwood

Hettick Standard City

Chesterfield

Medora

Panama

Murrayville

Keyesport

Southern View

Waggoner

Walshville

Huey

Grantfork

Old Ripley

Hoffman

MACOUPIN

BOND

GREENE

CHRISTIAN

JERSEY

CLINTON

MADISON

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

SANGAMON

ST. CLAIR

FAYETTE

!( CWS Wells

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Watershed for CWS

Setbacks for CWS Wells

Wellhead Protection Areas

Surface Water Protection Area

Shallow Aquifer

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.9-11. Water Supply Resources (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-72 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.10 Floodplains 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies 100‐year floodplains, or

Special Flood Hazard Areas.  The 100‐year floodplain is defined as the area that will be

inundated by a flood event having a one percent probability of being equaled or

exceeded in any given year.   

The study corridor crosses several 100‐year floodplains from Chicago to St. Louis.  The

most recent floodplain mapping from FEMA was used to inventory existing floodplains

and prepare mapping of 100‐year floodplains within a one‐mile wide study corridor

between Chicago and St. Louis.  FEMA 100‐year floodplains encompass approximately

10,406 acres or 5.0 percent of the study corridor.  The major 100‐year floodplain streams

located within the study corridor are listed in Table 4.10‐1.  These floodplain areas are

shown on Exhibits 4.10‐1 through 4.10‐3.  

Table 4.10‐1.  Major 100‐year Floodplain Streams within Study Corridor

Stream Name 

Buck Creek Midlothian Creek

Clear Creek Money Creek

Des Plaines River Panther Creek

Fancy Creek Prairie Creek

Fiddyment Creek Polecat Creek

Goose Creek Rooks Creek

Grant Creek Salt Creek

Hickory Creek Sangamon River

Hurricane Creek Sugar Creek

Kickapoo Creek Timber Creek

Lick Creek Turkey Creek

Long Run Unnamed Tributary to Des Plaines River

Macoupin Creek Unnamed Tributary to Grant Creek

Manhattan Creek Unnamed Tributary to Hickory Creek

May Branch Unnamed Tributary to Prairie Creek

Mazon River Wood River

   
Lake

Michigan

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤12

£¤6

£¤45

£¤30

£¤52

£¤41

Fox River

Des Plaines River

Kankakee River

Illinois River

Salt Creek

Johnny Run

Rock Creek

Exline Slough

Bills Run

Murray Slough

Pike Creek

Trim Creek

Jackson Creek

Thorn Creek

Crane Creek

Nettle Creek

Langan Creek

Beaver Creek

Gar Creek

Gooseberry Creek

Mill Creek

Deer Creek

Hickory Creek

Tyler Creek

Welch Creek

Poplar Creek

Granary Creek

Otter Creek

Fivemile Creek

Jordan Creek

Farr Creek

Horse Creek

Covel Creek

Fraction Run

Rayns Creek

Ida Creek

North Creek

Buck Branch

Stony Creek

Rat Run

Prairie Creek

Deer Creek

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

Chicago

Aurora

DeKalb

Glenview

Lisle

Geneva

Joliet

Elgin

Naperville

Bartlett

Orland Park

Bolingbrook

Romeoville

Schaumburg

Tinley Park

Plainfield

Kankakee

Wheaton

Batavia

Frankfort

Addison

Alsip

Des Plaines

St. Charles

Crete

Elmhurst

Matteson

Darien

Downers Grove

Hoffman Estates

Harvey

Mokena

Lemont

Marseilles

Oswego

Evanston

Oak Brook

Crest Hill

Channahon

Lockport

University Park

Pontiac

Dolton Yorkville

Wilmette

Sycamore

Oak Park

Bensenville

South Elgin

Warrenville

Burbank

Seneca

Monee

Braidwood

Elburn

Palos Hills

Wilmington

Elwood

Lyons

Gilberts

Virgil

Hampshire

Manteno

Essex

Genoa

Sandwich

Coal City

Hopkins Park

Barrington Hills

Beecher

Odell

Norridge

Herscher

Peotone

Sheridan

Newark

Manhattan

Momence

Braceville

Gardner

Ransom

Aroma Park

Hinckley

Ashkum

Cornell

Mazon

Sugar Grove

St. Anne

Grant Park

Maple Park

Cabery

Lisbon

Yorkville

Wheeling

Cullom

Burlington

Bonfield

Martinton

Sun River Terrace

Papineau

Reddick

Kempton

Saunemin

Buckingham Irwin

Verona

Emington

Campus

Symerton

WILL

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS

COOK

KANE

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

FORD

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

100-Year Floodplain

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.10-1. 100 Year Floodplain (1 of 3)
£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤150

£¤51

Salt Creek

Sangamon River

Sugar Creek

Illinois River

Rooks Creek

Money Creek

Deer Creek

Lake Fork

Panther Creek

Prairie Creek

Mud Creek

Snag Creek

Dillon Creek

Crow Creek

Rock Creek

Mole Creek

Goose Creek

Fancy Creek

Wolf Creek

Grove Creek

Long Creek

Bull Run

Lost Creek

Crane Creek

Fargo Run

Dry Creek

Blue Creek

Buck Creek

Lick Creek

Henry Creek

Baker Run

Spring Creek

Whitten Branch

Hickory Creek

North Creek

Willow Branch

Patton Creek

Gilfillan Creek

North Quiver Ditch

Burlison Creek

Vincent Run

§ ̈¦39 § ̈¦55

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

Decatur

Springfield

Pekin

Normal

Peoria

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Pontiac

Washington

Chillicothe

Peoria Heights

Downs

Clinton

Sherman

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Monticello

Rochester

Elkhart

Athens

Farmer City

Bellevue

Minonk

Heyworth

Gridley

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Maroa

Princeville

Bement

Roanoke

Lexington

Danvers

Williamsville

Minier

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Hudson

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Hammond

Hopewell

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Mapleton

Washburn

Oreana

Wapella

Congerville

Argenta

Flanagan

Secor

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

De Land

Stanford

Dunlap

Rutland

Dana

Warrensburg

Kenney

Kappa

De Witt

Weldon

Latham

South Pekin

Panola

Armington

Green Valley

Waynesville

La Rose

Ellsworth

Cooksville

New Holland

Middletown

Arrowsmith

Broadwell

Dalton City

Fairbury

Lovington

MCLEAN

LOGAN

DEWITT

PIATT

WOODFORD

LIVINGSTON

MENARD

MACON

PEORIA

SANGAMON

MASON

CHRISTIAN

MOULTRIE

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

100-Year Floodplain

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.10-2. 100 Year Floodplain (2 of 3)
ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

Silver Creek

Shoal Creek

Macoupin Creek

Apple Creek

Sugar Creek

Beaver Creek

Horse Creek

Ramsey Creek

Taylor Creek

Becks Creek

Indian Creek

Prairie Creek

Flat Creek

Dry Fork

Sugar Fork

Piasa Creek

Otter Creek

Sangamon River

Nassa Creek

Clary Creek

Lick Creek

Finley Creek

Jobs Creek

Prairie Fork

Coop Branch

Negro Lick

Phils Creek

Brushy Fork

Fancy Creek

Wolf Run

Suck Creek

Rock Creek

Wolf Creek

Clear Creek

Bear Creek

Long Creek

Pike Creek

Brushy Branch

Loop Creek

Maline Creek

Honey Creek

Lake Fork

Dry Branch

Oak Branch

Dums Creek

Marks Creek

Caesar Creek

Linn Creek Bolt Creek

Griffith Creek

Elliott Creek

Spoon Creek

Locust Fork

Brush Creek

Coon Creek

Carr Creek

Flat Branch

Gilham Creek

Lee Creek

Spring Creek

Fulton Creek

Cress Creek

Spring Branch

Snake Creek

Hog Creek

Little Beaver Creek

Halls Branch

Fork Creek

Brown Branch

Maggot Creek

Fancher Creek Wolf Branch

Mud Creek

Lick Branch

Angel Branch

Hog River

Wood River

Muddy Creek

Buck Creek

Prairie Creek

Horse Creek

St. Louis

West Alton

Oakville

Florissant

Mehlville

Ferguson

Spanish Lake

£¤50

£¤40

£¤67

£¤51

£¤36

£¤51

£¤51

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦70

§ ̈¦255

§ ̈¦64

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦72

Decatur

Godfrey

Springfield

Alton

Belleville

Granite City

Collinsville

Edwardsville

Taylorville

Columbia

Roxana

Troy

Centralia

Jacksonville

Mascoutah

Highland

Vandalia

Dix

Chatham

Greenville

Pana

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Witt

Shelbyville

Hillsboro

Sherman

Mount Zion

Freeburg

Forsyth

Staunton

Virden

Alorton

Lebanon

Carlinville

Hillsboro

Alma

Okawville

Elkhart

Athens

Elsah

Iuka

Brighton

Farina

Benld

Hamel

Harristown

Wenonah

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Virginia

Coffeen

Petersburg

Raymond

Waverly

Macon

Ramsey

Pawnee

Moweaqua

Palmyra

Marine

Maroa

Scottville

Bunker Hill

Kane

Williamsville

Tower Hill

Sandoval

Roodhouse

Franklin

Manchester

Tallula

Hoyleton

Ashland

New Douglas

Greenview

Farmersville

Mount Pulaski

Alhambra

Arenzville

Kincaid

Assumption

Beecher City

Mount Auburn

Oreana

Chandlerville

Mulberry Grove

Edinburg

Dalton City

Owaneco

Blue Mound

Cowden

Hettick

Oconee

Standard City

Findlay

Chesterfield

Hoffman

Medora

Panama

Warrensburg

Stonington

Keyesport

Concord

Walshville

Grantfork

Damiansville

Old Ripley

Oakford Kenney

MACOUPIN

FAYETTE

MARION

CASS

LOGAN

JERSEY

MADISON

MACON

SANGAMON

CHRISTIAN

BOND

SHELBY

CLINTON

MORGAN

MONTGOMERY

EFFINGHAM

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

100-Year Floodplain

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.10-3. 100 Year Floodplain (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-76 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.11 Wetlands 

Wetlands are natural areas that are often wet but may not be wet all year, and they are

characterized by their distinctive hydrology, soils, and vegetation.  Wetlands are

important features in the landscape that provide beneficial functions such as protecting

and improving water quality, storing floodwaters, maintaining surface water flow

during dry periods, and providing wildlife habitat.  Section 404 of the Clean Water Act

provides protection for wetlands and other waters of the U.S. and gives the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers jurisdiction to regulate the discharge of fill materials into these water

resources.   

The type of vegetation and duration of hydrology are the primary factors used to

classify wetland communities.  The primary wetland communities within the study

corridor are palustrine (i.e., freshwater) emergent (PEM), palustrine forested/scrub‐

shrub (PFO/PSS), palustrine unconsolidated bottom (PUB) (i.e., ponds), lacustrine (L)

(i.e., lakes), and riverine (R) (i.e., rivers) based on the Cowardin classification system

(Cowardin et al., 1979).        

National Wetland Inventory (NWI) mapping from the USFWS was used to inventory

existing wetlands within a one‐mile wide study corridor from Chicago to St. Louis.  No

field investigations were conducted to verify this information.  These wetlands are

shown on Exhibits 4.11‐1 through 4.11‐3.

NWI wetlands encompass approximately 9,915 acres or 4.8 percent of the study corridor.  

Approximately 15.9 percent of the wetlands are classified as PEM; 27.8 percent are

PFO/PSS; 15.5 percent are PUB, 11.7 percent are lacustrine; and 29.1 percent are riverine.  

The larger wetlands are associated with streams and floodplains, with smaller wetlands

scattered throughout the study corridor.  The area of wetlands found within the study

corridor is shown by type in Table 4.11‐1.   

Table 4.11‐1.  Acreage of NWI Wetland Types within the Study Corridor

Wetland Type Acres 

PEM 1,573

PFO/PSS 2,759

PUB 1,539

Lacustrine (L) 1,160

Riverine (R) 2,884

Total 9,915
Lake

Michigan

Fox River

Des Plaines River

Kankakee River

Illinois River

Salt Creek

Johnny Run

Rock Creek

Exline Slough

Bills Run

Murray Slough

Pike Creek

Trim Creek

Iroquois River

Jackson Creek

Thorn Creek

Blackberry Creek

Crane Creek

Nettle Creek

Langan Creek

Beaver Creek

Gar Creek

Gooseberry Creek

Mill Creek

Deer Creek

Hickory Creek

Tyler Creek

Poplar Creek

Granary Creek

Otter Creek

Fivemile Creek

Jordan Creek

Farr Creek

Tinley Creek

Horse Creek

Covel Creek

Walley Run

Fraction Run

Rayns Creek

Ida Creek

North Creek

Buck Branch

Stony Creek

Rat Run

Prairie Creek

Ackleys Run

Deer Creek

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤41

£¤12

£¤45

£¤52

£¤6

£¤30

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

Chicago

Aurora

DeKalb

Glenview

Lisle

Geneva

Joliet

Elgin

Naperville

Bartlett

Orland Park

Bolingbrook

Romeoville

Schaumburg

Tinley Park

Plainfield

Kankakee

Wheaton

Batavia

Frankfort

Addison

Alsip

Des Plaines

St. Charles

Crete

Elmhurst

Matteson

Darien

Downers Grove

Hoffman Estates

Harvey

Mokena

Lemont

Marseilles

Oswego

Evanston

Oak Brook

Crest Hill

Channahon

Lockport

University Park

Pontiac

Dolton

Yorkville

Wilmette

Sycamore

Oak Park

Bensenville

South Elgin

Warrenville

Burbank

Seneca

Monee

Braidwood

Elburn

Palos Hills

Wilmington

Elwood

Lyons

Gilberts

Virgil

Hampshire

Manteno

Essex

Genoa

Sandwich

Coal City

Hopkins Park

Barrington Hills

Beecher

Odell

Norridge

Herscher

Peotone

Sheridan

Newark

Manhattan

Momence

Braceville

Gardner

Ransom

Aroma Park

Hinckley

Ashkum

Cornell

Mazon

Sugar Grove

St. Anne

Grant Park

Maple Park

Cabery

Lisbon

Yorkville

Wheeling

Cullom

Burlington

Bonfield

Martinton

Sun River Terrace

Papineau

Reddick

Kempton

Saunemin

Buckingham Irwin

Verona

Emington

Campus

Symerton

WILL

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS

COOK

KANE

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

FORD

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

National Wetland Inventory

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.11-1. National Wetland Inventory (1 of 3)
£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤150

£¤51

Salt Creek

Sangamon River

Sugar Creek

Illinois River

Rooks Creek

Money Creek

Deer Creek

Lake Fork

Panther Creek

Prairie Creek

Mud Creek

Snag Creek

Dillon Creek

Crow Creek

Rock Creek

Mole Creek

Goose Creek

Fancy Creek

Wolf Creek

Grove Creek

Long Creek

Bull Run

Lost Creek

Crane Creek

Fargo Run

Dry Creek

Blue Creek

Buck Creek

Lick Creek

Henry Creek

Baker Run

Spring Creek

Whitten Branch

Hickory Creek

North Creek

Willow Branch

Patton Creek

Gilfillan Creek

North Quiver Ditch

Burlison Creek

Vincent Run

§ ̈¦39 § ̈¦55

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦155

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

Decatur

Springfield

Pekin

Normal

Peoria

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Pontiac

Washington

Chillicothe

Peoria Heights

Downs

Clinton

Sherman

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Monticello

Rochester

Elkhart

Athens

Farmer City

Bellevue

Minonk

Heyworth

Gridley

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Maroa

Princeville

Bement

Roanoke

Lexington

Danvers

Williamsville

Minier

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Hudson

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Hammond

Hopewell

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Mapleton

Washburn

Oreana

Wapella

Congerville

Argenta

Flanagan

Secor

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

De Land

Stanford

Dunlap

Rutland

Dana

Warrensburg

Kenney

Kappa

De Witt

Weldon

Latham

South Pekin

Panola

Armington

Green Valley

Waynesville

La Rose

Ellsworth

Cooksville

New Holland

Middletown

Arrowsmith

Broadwell

Dalton City

Fairbury

Lovington

MCLEAN

LOGAN

DEWITT

PIATT

WOODFORD

LIVINGSTON

MENARD

MACON

PEORIA

SANGAMON

MASON

CHRISTIAN

MOULTRIE

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

National Wetland Inventory

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.11-2. National Wetland Inventory (2 of 3)
ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

Macoupin Creek

Shoal Creek

Silver Creek

Cahokia Creek

Apple Creek

Sugar Creek

Mississippi River

Horse Creek

Brush Creek

Taylor Creek

Indian Creek

Joes Creek

Dry Fork

Bear Creek

Sugar Fork

Piasa Creek

Otter Creek

Nassa Creek

Lick Creek

Prairie Fork

Coop Branch

Brushy Fork

Sherry Creek

Panther Creek

Lake Branch

Wolf Run

Sangamon River

Clear Creek

Deer Creek

Bearcat Creek

Walnut Creek

Maline Creek

Honey Creek

Lake Fork

Dry Branch

Birch Creek

Grove Branch

Coal Creek

Ogles Creek

Big Branch

Mill Creek

Rubicon Creek

May Branch

Polecat Creek

Spanker Branch

Cress Creek

Spring Branch

Black Creek

Little Beaver Creek

Coon Run

Plum Creek

Allen Branch

Middle Fork

Sandy Creek

Spring Creek

Mooney Branch

Lick Branch

Deer Branch

Flat Creek

Little Bear Rough

Lick Branch

Sugar Creek

Bear Creek

Lick Creek

Spring Creek

St. Louis

West Alton

Ladue

Hazelwood Florissant

Old Jamestown

Kirkwood

Ferguson

Spanish Lake

Overland

Affton

Bellefontaine Neighbors

Maplewood

Portage Des Sioux

£¤67

£¤50

£¤40

£¤36

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦64 § ̈¦255

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦55

Springfield

Godfrey

Alton

O'Fallon

Collinsville

Cahokia

Edwardsville

Taylorville

Roxana

Troy

Jacksonville

Bethalto

Highland

Glen Carbon

Caseyville

Chatham

Maryville

Greenville

Grafton

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Witt

Breese

Hillsboro

White Hall

Staunton

Virden

Carlinville

Hillsboro

Rochester

Brighton

Benld

Hamel

Carrollton

Wenonah

Gillespie

Loami

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Chapin

Coffeen

Raymond

Waverly Pawnee

Palmyra

Harvel

Otterville

Scottville

Bunker Hill

Kane

Alsey

Livingston

Fillmore

Roodhouse

Franklin

Manchester

South Jacksonville

Mount Olive

Worden

New Douglas

Farmersville

Alhambra

Kincaid

Morrisonville

Mount Auburn

Sorento

Modesto

Dorchester

Rockbridge

Germantown

St. Jacob

Edinburg

Nilwood

Hettick Standard City

Chesterfield

Medora

Murrayville

Keyesport

Southern View

Waggoner

Walshville

Huey

Grantfork

Donnellson

Old Ripley

Hoffman

MACOUPIN

BOND

GREENE

CHRISTIAN

JERSEY

CLINTON

ST. CLAIR

MADISON

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

SANGAMON

FAYETTE

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

National Wetland Inventory

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.11-3. National Wetland Inventory (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-80 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.12 Utilities 

Throughout the study corridor between Chicago and St. Louis, utilities are running

parallel to and crossing the existing and proposed rail locations. Rural areas of the study

corridor typically include fiber optic and other communication lines sharing right‐of‐

way along the railroad while utility crossings of communication, gas and power utilities

typically occur at the rural roadway crossings. Within urban areas, many more utility

crossings occur with additional utilities such as sanitary sewer, water, storm sewer in

addition to communication, gas and electric. Major oil and gas pipelines are also known

to occur along the study corridor, but the locations of these are not readily identifiable

and information on their locations is not readily available at the Tier 1 study level.

Additional information would be gathered in Tier 2 to coordinate the location and

identification of specific impacts to utilities.

4.13 Visual and Aesthetic Quality 

4.13.1 Guidance 

This section describes the existing visual environment of the study corridor, including

scenic resources.  Aesthetics and visual resources are natural and cultural landscape

features that people see and that contribute to the public’s appreciative enjoyment of the

environment.  The visual environment is a critical element in people’s daily experience

and is often a defining factor of their quality of life.

Because FRA does not have its own separate guidance for assessing visual and aesthetic

quality, this study used   FHWA guidance titled Visual Impact Assessment for Highway

Projects (USDOT 1983).  Under the FHWA guidance, the visual environment is

categorized into the following three geographic levels:

 Regional Landscapes – Regional landscapes are discussed in terms of landform,

topography, and/or land cover components, which include water, vegetation, and

manmade development.

 Landscape Units – Landscape units are within the regional landscape and are

essentially “outdoor rooms” that often correspond to places or districts that are

named (i.e. downtown).  Landscape units are usually enclosed by clear landform or

land cover boundaries.

 Visual Survey Locations – Visual survey locations are locations of specific interest to

persons within the larger regional landscape and landscape unit.  Attributes of

visual survey locations are described in terms of visual character, visual quality, and

visually sensitive resources.

4.13.2 Application of FHWA Guidance 

The study corridor contains five regional landscapes: Northeastern Morainal, Grand

Prairie, Western Forest‐Prairie, Middle Mississippi Border, and Lower Mississippi River

Bottomlands (INHS, 1996).  The Northeastern Morainal region in northeastern Illinois
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-81 Tier 1 Final EIS 

(Cook and Will counties) has diverse wetland, prairie, forest, savanna, and lake

communities.  This section hosts the greatest biodiversity in Illinois and the largest

human population.  As is true statewide, natural land cover has been extensively altered

through agricultural activities and development and urbanization, though urbanization

is considerably more extensive in this region than elsewhere.  The Grand Prairie region

of central and east‐central Illinois (Will, Grundy, Livingston, McLean, Logan, and

Sangamon counties) is a vast plain formerly occupied primarily by tallgrass prairie, now

converted extensively to agriculture.  The Western Forest‐Prairie region (Macoupin and

Madison counties) is forested in riparian zones and on steep hillsides and has

agricultural and rural grasslands in its upland areas.  The Middle Mississippi Border

region (Madison County) is a relatively narrow band of river bluffs and rugged terrain

bordering the Mississippi River floodplain, and the Lower Mississippi River

Bottomlands (Madison and St. Clair counties and City of St. Louis) contain the

Mississippi River and its floodplain (INHS, 1996).  Several landscape units and visual

survey locations, as shown on Table 4.13‐1, are found within the five regional landscapes

of the study corridor.  

4.13.3 Visual Quality of the Study Area 

The study area for aesthetics and visual resources includes much of the study corridor’s

viewshed (i.e., the areas that could potentially have views of the study corridor and the

areas from which viewers from trains could potentially see as they travel through the

landscape).  The visual environment of the study corridor ranges from undeveloped

agricultural areas and small towns to large‐scale industrial development and vibrant

urban districts.  Most of the study corridor consists of rural or single family residential

and agricultural areas with flat topography.  The majority of the existing rail corridor

supports active freight and passenger rail service, while part of the rail corridor supports

only freight service.

Heavy industrial views are predominant along the existing tracks in Cook County

between Chicago and Lemont.  The viewsheds in Lockport, Joliet, and Elwood in Will

County provide a mixture of retail commercial, institutional, and recreational land uses

in proximity to the railroad.  South of Elwood the railroad passes through more than

4 miles of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.  The Midewin National Tallgrass

Prairie is a 16,000‐acre prairie parkland that serves as both a nature preserve and a

recreational open space with biking and hiking trails.  The Midewin National Tallgrass

Prairie adds notable visual quality in comparison to some industrial and agricultural

settings.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-82 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.13‐1.  Landscape Regions, Units, and Visual Survey Locations

Landscape Region Landscape Unit Visual Survey Location 

Northeastern Morainal Chicago Area

Joliet Area

Industrial

Commercial

Residential

Agricultural

Forest/Open Space

Unique Landscapes (Historic Sites

and Special Lands)

Grand Prairie

Will County

Grundy County

Livingston County

McLean County

Bloomington‐Normal Area

Logan County

Sangamon County

Springfield Area

Industrial

Commercial

Residential

Agricultural

Forest/Open Space

Unique Landscapes (Midewin

National Tallgrass Prairie, Historic

Sites, and Special Lands)

Western Forest‐Prairie Madison County

Industrial

Commercial

Residential

Agricultural

Forest/Open Space

Unique Landscapes (Historic Sites

and Special Lands)

Middle Mississippi Border Madison County

Industrial

Commercial

Residential

Agricultural

Forest/Open Space

Unique Landscapes (Historic Sites

and Special Lands)

Lower Mississippi River

Bottomlands St. Louis Area

Industrial

Commercial

Residential

Agricultural

Forest/Open Space

Unique Landscapes (Historic Sites

and Special Lands)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-83 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Outside of the small agricultural towns in Grundy, Livingston, Logan, Macoupin, and

Jersey counties, the railroad passes through mostly agricultural areas.  Overall visual

quality is good, though they possess few uncommon or distinguishing visual features.  

The visual setting in Mclean County is mostly agricultural, except for the community of

Bloomington‐Normal.  The Bloomington‐Normal viewshed contains industry,

commercial and educational facilities, and residential areas.

Outside of Springfield, the visual setting in Sangamon County is characteristic of that in

predominantly agricultural areas.  Within Springfield the views are generally mixed

around the railroad with a high concentration of government buildings and businesses

in the downtown district.

The study corridor extends for approximately 27 miles in Madison County, 4 miles in St.

Clair County, and 2 miles in the City of St. Louis, passing through urbanized,

incorporated communities with heavy industrial uses.

Several Illinois laws and features positively contribute to the aesthetics and visual

quality of the study corridor.

4.13.3.1 Illinois Scenic Byways Program

Under the National Scenic Byways Program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation can

recognize roads that possess outstanding scenic, historic, recreational, cultural,

archeological, and/or natural qualities by designating them as either National Scenic

Byways or All‐American Roads.  The seven National Scenic Byways in Illinois are: Great

River Road, Historic National Road, Historic Route 66, Illinois Lincoln Highway, Illinois

River Road, Meeting of The Great Rivers, and Ohio River Scenic Byway.  Historic Route

66 follows a similar route to the study corridor between Chicago and St. Louis.  The

federal law that created the Illinois Scenic Byways Program includes a prohibition of

new off‐site advertising along nationally designated roadways.  Illinois Scenic Byways

are shown on Exhibit 4.13‐1.

4.13.3.2 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Greenways & Trails Program

Greenways protect green corridors that provide and connect open space, and the trails

program provides long‐distance trails in new locations and connects and improves

existing trails (IDNR, 2009).  The Greenways & Trails Program worked with

partnerships to develop and promote the Grand Illinois Trail, Mississippi River Trail,

and the Route 66 Trail.   

4.13.3.3 Natural Areas/Open Spaces

Northern and Central Illinois have several large reserves of natural and wildlife

management areas.  Natural Areas adjacent to or near the study corridor include the

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Funk’s Grove Nature Preserve, Thaddeus

Stubblefield Grove Nature Preserve, Denby Prairie Nature Preserve, Beaver Dam State

Park, Edwin R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area, Cook County Forest Preserve, and

others.  Natural Areas are shown in Section 4.6.4, Exhibits 4.6‐9 through 4.6‐11.
Exhibit 4.13-1. Illinois Scenic Byways 
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-85 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.14 Special Waste

A screening of special waste sites was performed and documented for the study corridor

using a search of records contained in federal and state databases.  The objective of this

effort was to identify areas where additional screening will be necessary to determine

the presence and extent of potential special waste sites within the study corridor.   

Records were searched by Environmental Data Resources, Inc (EDR).  The search was

limited to a one‐mile wide corridor (0.5 mile on each side of the centerline).  A total of

6,664 records were identified, associated with 1,110 individual sites from 93 state and

federal record databases.  Many of the programs have overlapping coverage, and many

sites have multiple record associations.  The effort was focused on records associated

with the types of sites listed in Table 4.14‐1, which are most likely to require additional

screening due to the presence of special waste.  Sites with these types of records are

shown on Exhibits 4.14‐1 through 4.14‐3.  

Table 4.14‐1.  Environmental Databases

Database Abbreviation Agency 

Proposed National Priority List Sites PROPOSED NPL USEPA

Risk Management Plans RMP USEPA

Comprehensive Environmental Response,  

Compensation, and Liability Information System CERCLIS USEPA

Engineering Controls Sites List ENG CONTROLS USEPA

Sites with Institutional Controls INST CONTROL USEPA

Resource and Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) –

Treatment, Storage and Disposal RCRA‐TSDF   USEPA

Superfund (CERCLA) Consent Decrees CONSENT USEPA

Land Use Control Information System LUCIS USEPA

CERCLA Lien Information LIENS 2 USEPA

National Priority List NPL USEPA

Manufactured Gas Plants   EDR MGP IEPA

Solid Waste Landfill Inventory IL_NIPC IEPA

Institutional Controls INST CONTROL IEPA

Sites with Engineering Controls ENG CONTROLS IEPA
Lake

Michigan

§ ̈¦57

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦88

§ ̈¦80

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦355

§ ̈¦94

§ ̈¦290

§ ̈¦190

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦294

§ ̈¦90

§ ̈¦90

£¤6

£¤30

£¤34

£¤52

£¤12

£¤20

£¤45

£¤14

£¤41

£¤12

£¤6

£¤45

£¤30

£¤52

£¤41

WILL

COOK

KANE

KANKAKEE

GRUNDY

LIVINGSTON

LASALLE

DUPAGE DEKALB

KENDALL

IROQUOIS FORD

Chicago

Joliet

Aurora

Elgin

Bartlett

DeKalb

Lisle

Alsip

Geneva

Skokie

Naperville

Orland Park

Bolingbrook

Romeoville

Tinley Park

Plainfield

Kankakee

Wheaton

Batavia

Frankfort

St. Charles Addison

Crete

Morris

Elmhurst

Matteson

Darien

Lombard

Schaumburg

West Chicago

Cicero

Wayne

Harvey

Oak Lawn

Mokena

New Lenox

Lemont

Marseilles

Itasca

Oswego

Niles

Crest Hill

Channahon

Pontiac

University Park

Des Plaines

Dolton Yorkville

Burr Ridge

Plano

Sycamore

Oak Forest

Oak Park

Bensenville

Bradley

Warrenville

Joliet

Seneca

Monee

Sugar Grove

Homewood

Bedford Park

Braidwood

Justice

Elburn

Wilmington

Blue Island

Elwood

Virgil

Dwight

Manteno

Essex

Sandwich

Coal City

Hopkins Park

Lily Lake

Beecher

Odell

Norridge

Herscher

Peotone

Sheridan

Watseka

Newark

Manhattan

Momence

Clifton

Braceville

Ford Heights

Gardner

Ransom

Aroma Park

Hinckley

Ashkum

Waterman

Preston Heights

Mazon

Yorkville

Iroquois

St. Anne

Grant Park

Danforth

Maple Park

Cabery

Lisbon

Cullom

Minooka

Chebanse

Donovan

Martinton

Papineau

Reddick

Kempton

Saunemin

Buckingham Irwin

Verona

Leland

Streator

Emington

Campus

Burlington

Ottawa

Symerton

Union Hill

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.14-1. Special Waste (1 of 3)

Special Waste Sites

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Joliet Army Ammunition Plant

Study Corridor

County Boundary

Municipality
§ ̈¦ § ̈¦55 39

§ ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦474

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦474 § ̈¦74

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦155

£¤150

£¤36

£¤51

£¤24

£¤136

£¤150

£¤51

Peoria

Decatur

Springfield

Pekin

Normal

Morton

East Peoria

Bloomington

Lincoln

Bartonville

Pontiac

Washington

Chillicothe

Downs

Eureka

Clinton

Sherman

Le Roy

Rome

Mount Zion

Forsyth

Riverton

Monticello

Rochester

Elkhart

El Paso

Athens

Farmer City

Bellevue

Minonk

Atlanta

Harristown

Heyworth

Gridley Chenoa

Goodfield

Niantic

Metamora

Mackinaw

Dawson

Maroa

Tremont

Princeville

Bement

Roanoke

Bloomington

Lexington

Danvers

Williamsville

Minier

Spring Bay

Delavan

Mason City

Colfax

Hudson

Decatur

Greenview

Mount Pulaski

Towanda

Hammond

Hopewell

Cisco

Mount Auburn

Mapleton

Washburn

Oreana

Wapella

Argenta

Flanagan

Secor

San Jose

Cerro Gordo

Hopedale

McLean

Illiopolis

De Land

Stanford

Dunlap

Rutland

Dana

Warrensburg

Kenney

Southern View

Kappa

De Witt

Weldon

Emden

South Pekin

Panola

Armington

Green Valley

Waynesville

La Rose

Carlock

Benson

Ellsworth

Mechanicsburg

Cooksville

New Holland

Middletown

Arrowsmith

Broadwell

Hartsburg

Dalton City

Fairbury

Lovington

MCLEAN

LOGAN

DEWITT

PIATT

WOODFORD

PEORIA

LIVINGSTON

MENARD

MACON

SANGAMON

MASON

CHRISTIAN

 ́ MOULTRIE

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.14-2. Special Waste (2 of 3)

Special Waste Sites

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary
ST. LOUIS

ST. CHARLES

St. Louis

West Alton

Ladue

Hazelwood Florissant

Old Jamestown

Kirkwood

Ferguson

Spanish Lake

Overland

St. Ann

Affton

Normandy

Portage Des Sioux

£¤67

£¤50

£¤40

£¤36

§ ̈¦55

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦270

§ ̈¦64 § ̈¦255

§ ̈¦72

§ ̈¦55

Springfield

Godfrey

Alton

Granite City

O'Fallon

Collinsville

Cahokia

Edwardsville

Taylorville

Roxana

Troy

Jacksonville

Bethalto

Highland

Glen Carbon

Caseyville

Chatham

Greenville

Grafton

Carlyle

Auburn

Jerseyville

Witt

Breese

Hillsboro

White Hall

Staunton

Virden

Carlinville

Hillsboro

Rochester

Brighton

Benld

Hamel

Carrollton

Wenonah

Gillespie

Madison

Loami

Shipman

Girard

Palmer

Chapin

Coffeen

Raymond

Waverly Pawnee

Palmyra

Harvel

Otterville

Scottville

Bunker Hill

Kane

Alsey

Livingston

Fillmore

Roodhouse

Mascoutah

Franklin

Manchester

South Jacksonville

Mount Olive

Worden

New Douglas

Farmersville

Alhambra

Kincaid

Morrisonville

Mount Auburn

Modesto

Dorchester

Rockbridge

Germantown

St. Jacob

Edinburg

Nilwood

Hettick Standard City

Chesterfield

Medora

Panama

Murrayville

Keyesport

Southern View

Waggoner

Walshville

Huey

Grantfork

Old Ripley

Hoffman

MACOUPIN

BOND

GREENE

CHRISTIAN

JERSEY

CLINTON

MADISON

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

SANGAMON

ST. CLAIR

FAYETTE

Special Waste Sites

U.S. Highway

Interstate Highway

Study Corridor

Municipality

County Boundary

 ́

Not To Scale

Exhibit 4.14-3. Special Waste (3 of 3)
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-89 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Of particular interest are Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and

Liability Information System (CERCLIS) sites and National Priority List (NPL) sites.  The

NPL is a subset of CERCLIS and identifies sites for priority cleanup under the

Superfund Program.  NPL sites may encompass relatively large areas.  CERCLIS

contains data on potentially hazardous waste sites that are either proposed or included

on the NPL and sites which are in the screening and assessment phase for possible

inclusion on the NPL.  There are six NPL sites and 41 additional CERCLIS sites

identified in the records.  The six NPL sites are listed in Table 4.14‐2.  

Table 4.14‐2.  NPL Sites

Site Location 

Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Manufacturing Area) Joliet, IL

Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Load‐Assembly‐Packing Area) Joliet, IL

Metalico‐Granit City, Inc. Granite City, IL

Jennison‐Wright Corporation Granite City, IL

Chemetco, Inc. Hartford, IL

Lenz Oil Service, Inc. Lemont, IL

The Joliet Ammunition Plant NPL sites are very large areas that occupy both the east

and west sides of the study corridor and several miles of the study corridor itself.  In

addition to the six NPL sites listed in Table 4.14‐2, Appendix D also lists the 41 CERCLIS

sites and all other potential special waste sites identified within the study corridor.

4.15 Section 4(f)/6(f) and Parklands 

This section identifies parks, wildlife refuges, nature preserves, and other lands adjacent

to the rail corridor that may qualify for protection under Section 4(f) of the Department

of Transportation Act of 1966 or Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund

(LWCF) Act of 1965.  Historic sites, which are also protected under Section 4(f), are

discussed in Section 4.5 Cultural Resources.

Section 4(f) stipulates that FRA and other DOT agencies cannot approve the use of land

from publicly owned parks, recreational areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, or public

and private historical sites unless the following conditions apply:

 There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of land.

 The action includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the property resulting

from use.

There are three different scenarios in which a Section 4(f) use of a property occurs: (1)

when the land is permanently taken to allow for a transportation facility, (2) when a

temporary occupancy occurs in order to allow for construction‐related activities, or (3)

when there is an indirect impact.   Public school properties are typically not classified as

Section 4(f), unless their facilities support an organized public recreational activity such

as youth soccer or serve a community recreational purpose (e.g., a playground that

serves a neighborhood recreational need after school hours).  Public school properties
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-90 Tier 1 Final EIS 

are discussed in Section 4.2.4; potential Section 4(f) consideration for these facilities will

be evaluated during Tier 2 studies.

The LWCF was enacted to establish a funding source to assist states and Federal

agencies in meeting present and future outdoor recreation demands and needs.  Section

6(f) of the Act requires that all properties “acquired or developed, either partially or

wholly, with LWCF funds” must be maintained as such in perpetuity. Section 6(f)(3)

states that those properties acquired or developed with LWCF funds shall not be

converted to a use other than public outdoor recreation without the approval of the

Secretary of the Department of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service

and at the request of the state delegate/State Liaison Officer.

An inventory of properties located within 250 feet of the existing railroad alignments

that may qualify for protection under Section 4(f) was conducted.  Fifty‐two sites with

potential Section 4(f) recreational or refuge resources were identified and are shown in

Table 4.15‐1 and Exhibit 4.15‐1.  Historic sites within the study corridor are identified

and discussed in Section 4.5.

Table 4.15‐1.  Potential Section 4(f) Properties within 250 Feet of Alignments

Resource County Section 

Hoyne Park Cook 1

Leclaire‐Hearst Community Park Cook 1

Stars and Stripes Park Cook 1

Hanover Park Cook 1

Summit Park Cook 1

Unnamed Park (Vana St, Willow Springs, IL) Cook 1

Lions Park Cook 1

Red Gate Woods/Columbia Woods (Cook County Forest Preserve) Cook 1

Long Run Seep Nature Preserve Will 1

Lockport Golf & Recreation Will 1

Dellwood Park Will 1

Centennial and I&M Canal Trail System Will 1

Ping Tom Memorial Park Cook 1, 2

Metcalfe Park Cook 2

Taylor Park Cook 2

Park No. 527 (S La Salle St & E 63rd) Cook 2

Hamilton Park Cook 2

Lyle Park Cook 2

Auburn Park Cook 2

Troublemakers Park Cook 2
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-91 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.15‐1.  Potential Section 4(f) Properties within 250 Feet of Alignments

(continued)

Resource County Section 

Memorial Park (Midlothian) Cook 2

Midlothian Meadows Cook 2

Vogt Woods Park Cook 2

George W. Dunne National Golf Course Cook 2

Lancaster Woods Park Cook 2

Unnamed Park (at Western Ave Bridge over Cal‐Sag Channel) Cook 2

St. Mihiel Reservation (CC Forest Preserve) Cook 2

Sanctuary Golf Club Will 2

Hickory Creek Forest Preserve Will 2

R S Corcoran Park/Haines Wayside Park Will 2

Potawatomi Woods County Forest Preserve Will 2

Pilcher Park Will 2

Highland Park Will 2

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Will 3

Des Plaines Fish & Wildlife Area Will 3

Hitts Siding Prairie Nature Preserve Will 3

Manzonia‐Braidwood State Fish & Wildlife Area Will 3

Florence W. Garrett Park Livingston 3

Keller Park McLean 3

Funks Grove Land and Water Reserve/ Funks Grove Nature

Preserve/ Stubblefield Woodlots Nature Preserve McLean 3

Edward R Madigan State Park/ Railsplitter State Park Logan 3

Unnamed Park (Sherman) Sangamon 3

Memorial Pool Park Sangamon 4, 5

Iles Park Sangamon 5

Interurban Trail (Chatham to Springfield) Sangamon 6

Veterans Park Sangamon 6

Sangamon Valley Greenway Sangamon 6

Beaver Dam State Park Macoupin 6

Denby Prairie Nature Preserve Macoupin 6

Hartford Park Madison 6

Wadlow (Alton) Municipal Golf Course Madison 6

Lee Park Madison 7

Malcolm Martin Memorial Park St. Clair 7
Exhibit 4.15-1. Section 4(f) Resources 
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-93 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Two recreation sites, listed in Table 4.15‐2, were identified on the National Park Service

list of sites receiving LWCF grants and are, therefore, potentially eligible for protection

under Section 6(f).  The Beaver Dam State Park grant was used to fund improvements to

a Sanitary Dump Station.  Based on information provided by Illinois Department of

Natural Resources, the area of improvements is located west of Beaver Dam Lake,

approximately one mile from the study corridor.  The I&M Canal Trail grant was used to

improve a 2.0 mile segment of the trail in Lockport, from 2nd Street to Dellwood Park.  

Portions of the trail are located within the study corridor.

Table 4.15‐2.  Potential Section 6(f) Properties within 250 Feet of Alignments

Resource County Section Grant Type 

Grant 

Amount 

Grant 

Date

I&M Canal Trail System Will 1 Development $256,490.26 1982

Beaver Dam State Park Macoupin 6 Redevelopment $9,683.70 1983

4.16 Safety and Security 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has primary authority over railroad safety.

FRA’s regulations govern aspects of railroad safety, including rail operations, track, and

signaling, as well as rolling stock, such as locomotives and freight cars (49 CFR 200‐299).

The states also have an important role in freight rail safety, especially at highway/rail at‐

grade crossings. Other groups that establish standards and practices for the industry

include the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the American Short Line and

Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), and the American Railway Engineering and

Maintenance‐of‐Way Association (AREMA).

4.16.1 Rail Operations Safety and Security 

4.16.1.1 Train Operations

FRA’s Track Safety Standards (49 CFR Part 213) are based on classifications of track that

determine maximum operating speed limits, inspection frequencies, and standards of

maintenance, among other issues. Higher track classes require more stringent

maintenance standards to support higher allowable maximum operating speed.  The

existing passenger service is designated Class 4, allowing maximum speeds up to 79

mph.  Existing maintenance and inspection requirements, as documented in the existing

service plan, meet FRA Class 4 standards.

In the current security climate, rail line security continues to be a prominent concern.

Access points are of particular concern. The entire study corridor is accessible from

many miles of arterial and secondary roadways where no security measures are

practicable.  Standard rail security practices are in place in at all rail yards throughout

the study corridor.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-94 Tier 1 Final EIS 

4.16.1.2 Passenger Areas

Passengers interact with the rail system at stations, on platforms, and within passenger

trains.  These facilities are susceptible to a range of safety and security threats ranging

from personal accidents (e.g., slips or trips) to criminal activity (e.g., theft or terrorism to

Passenger Areas).  Platform areas add risks associated with moving trains and train

boarding.  Finally, once on the train, passengers are at risk for these same incidents.

Amtrak has previously reviewed each of the 11 stations in the study corridor to ensure

that appropriate safety measures, tailored to the specific setting, are in place.  Each

station and train includes a set of security infrastructure to deter or respond to safety or

security incidents that may include:

 Lighting;

 Fire/life safety systems;

 Video cameras; and

 Public address systems.

Amtrak, along with the Amtrak Police Department, has a range of behind‐the‐scenes

and front‐line security measures in place to ensure passenger rail security.  Among these

security measures, some of which are conducted on an unpredictable or random basis,

passengers may notice any of the following in stations or onboard trains:

 Uniformed police officers and Special Operations Units;  

 Random passenger and carry‐on baggage screening and inspection;

 K‐9 units;  

 Checked baggage screening;  

 Onboard security checks; and  

 Identification checks.  

These measures are customized to each setting based on reviews of potential incidents

and occurrence risk.

4.16.1.3 Yard/Service Areas

Amtrak currently operates yard and maintenance facilities in the Chicago area to

support the existing passenger service in the study corridor.  These facilities are

operated in accordance with FRA standards for safety and security.

4.16.2 Crossing Safety 

4.16.2.1 Rail‐Rail Crossings

The existing alignment utilized for passenger service from Chicago to St. Louis includes

33 locations where it crosses another rail line.  Fourteen of these crossings are at‐grade.  

The movement of rail traffic through these intersections, called interlockings, is

governed similarly to a highway intersection. Traffic signals show a green light in one
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-95 Tier 1 Final EIS 

direction and a red light in another direction to eliminate conflicting movements.

Railroad interlockings differ slightly in that priority can be assigned by the interlocking

controller. In other words, the controlling railroad determines which train goes first.  

Table 4.16‐1 provides a list of these crossings, from north‐to‐south, in the study corridor.

Table 4.16‐1.  At‐Grade Rail‐Rail Crossings

Section Milepost 

HSR 

Alignment 

Railroad Crossing Railroad 

Controls 

Interlocking 

1 5.10 CN Norfolk Southern (NS)/CSX   NS

1 6.60 CN BNSF Railroad CN

1 7.90 CN Chicago Belt Railroad Chicago Belt

Railroad

1 13.20 CN Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Indiana Harbor

Belt

2 6.68 NIRC Norfolk Southern NIRC

2 38.96 NIRC Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad NIRC

2 37.53 UP NIRC NIRC

3 37.53 UP NIRC NIRC

3 72.81 UP Norfolk Southern UP

3 102.29 UP Toledo Peoria and Western Railroad UP

3 126.52 UP Norfolk  Southern UP

3 155.68 UP CN UP

6 210.54 UP BNSF Railroad UP

7 280.73 UP CSX UP

A dispatcher controls the movement of both passenger trains and freight trains on the

same track or tracks. Redundant safeguards are in place to avoid conflicting movements

that could result in a collision. Nevertheless, the risk does exist for accidents to occur

that could impact the safety of passengers aboard trains or train crews. Potential risks

include two types of accidents: either a collision of two trains on the same track, or a

derailed train on one track being struck by a moving train on the adjacent track. All such

accidents are reported to FRA, who has jurisdiction over safety and maintains a database

of such accidents.

4.16.2.2 Highway‐Rail and Pedestrian‐Rail Crossings

Where a roadway, sidewalk or pedestrian trail/bikeway crosses the track at the same

elevation, this is called a “grade” crossing. Where a roadway, sidewalk or pedestrian

trail/bikeway passes over the tracks via an “overpass” bridge structure or passes under a
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-96 Tier 1 Final EIS 

railroad track via an underpass bridge structure, these crossings are referred to as

“grade separated.”

FHWA and FRA have regulatory jurisdiction over safety at crossings, pursuant to the

Highway Safety Act of 1966 (HSA) (23 USC 401 et seq.). The HSA governs the

distribution of federal funds to states aimed at eliminating hazards at highway‐rail

grade crossings. USDOT has issued regulations that address crossing safety and

provides federal funding for the installation and improvement of warning devices

through state departments of transportation. In addition to federal oversight and

funding, states also monitor crossings and, in many cases designate funding to

complement the federal funds.

Jurisdiction over highway‐rail grade crossings falls primarily to the states. This

authority is set forth in the Railroad‐Highway Grade Crossing Handbook (FHWA

2007a). Each state department of transportation is required to periodically inspect

highway‐rail grade crossings and to determine the adequacy of warning devices at each

location, as well as to order safety improvements.  USDOT oversees and approves the

state determinations.

In Illinois, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has regulatory jurisdiction over

safety at all public crossings (625 ILCS 5/18c‐7401). No public road, highway, street,

sidewalk or pedestrian trail/bikeway shall be constructed across the track of any rail

carrier at grade, nor shall the track of any rail carrier be constructed across a public road,

highway, street, sidewalk or pedestrian trail/bikeway at grade, without permission of

the ICC.

The ICC also has the power to require the separation of grades at any proposed crossing

where a public road, highway, street, sidewalk or pedestrian trail/bikeway may cross the

tracks of a rail carrier.

All warning signs or automatic warning devices installed at public crossings in Illinois

must meet the minimum requirements of 92 Illinois Administrative Code 1535. In

addition, all warning signs or warning devices installed at crossings must comply with

FHWA’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (23 CFR 646.214[b][1[).

The MUTCD provides standards for the types of warning devices that must be installed

at all highway‐rail grade crossings (FHWA 2007b). FRA issued regulations under its

railroad safety authority that impose minimum standards for highway‐rail grade

crossings (49 CFR Part 234). FRA maintains information for each highway‐rail grade

crossing based on information provided by the states and the railroads. FRA and FHWA

coordinate research efforts related to highway‐rail grade crossing collisions and provide

guidance and solutions to problems.

Table 4.16‐2 provides a summary of the number and type of crossings along the study

corridor.
Chicago-St. Louis High-Speed Rail 4-97 Tier 1 Final EIS 

Table 4.16‐2.  Summary of Highway‐Rail Crossings

Section 

At-Grade Crossings Grade Separated Crossings 

Public Private Ped Subtotal Public Private Ped Subtotal Total

1 31 16 1 48 52 5 0 57 105

2 45 6 1 52 78 1 1 80 132

3 106 23 4 133 31 2 1 34 167

4 30 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 30

5 22 0 0 22 0 0 0 22 22

6 60 23 2 85 15 1 0 16 101

7 3 0 0 3 16 0 0 16 19

Appendix E provides a list of all crossings in the study corridor and the safety measures

currently in place at each.

4.16.2.3 Emergency Access during Grade Crossing Closures or Blockages

The existing study corridor passes through dozens of jurisdictions, including local,

county, and park properties, each with one or more providers of emergency services

(e.g., police, fire, ambulance, etc.).  Each of these jurisdictions is responsible for

coordinating with the railroad owner and developing their own plan for addressing

issues associated with unplanned grade crossing closures or blockages.  No information

is available regarding how many emergency service providers have developed such

plans.